because his time was of least value."

"He frequently met with words that he was unacquainted with: of this he
often complain'd. I one day happen'd at a Book-stall to see a small
Dictionary, which had been very ill us'd. I bought it for him for 4d. By
the help of this he in little time could read and comprehend the long and
beautiful speeches of BURKE, FOX, or NORTH.

"One Sunday, after an whole day's stroll in the country, we by accident
went into a dissenting _Meeting-house_ in the _Old Jewry_, where a
Gentleman was lecturing. This Man fill'd _Robert_ with astonishment. The
House was amazingly crowded with the most genteel people; and though we
were forc'd to stand still in the aisle, and were much press'd, yet
_Robert_ always quicken'd his steps to get into the Town on a Sunday
evening soon enough to attend this Lecture.

"The Preacher lived somewhere at the West End of the Town ... his name was
FAWCET. His language," says Mr. G. BLOOMFIELD, "was just such as the
_Rambler_ is written in; his Action like a person acting a Tragedy; his
Discourse rational, and free from the Cant of Methodism.

"Of him _Robert_ learn'd to accent what he call'd _hard_ words; and
otherwise improv'd himself; and gain'd the most enlarg'd notions of
PROVIDENCE.

"He went sometimes with me to a _Debating Society_
[Footnote: It is another of the Constitutional Refinements of these times
to have fetter'd, and as to every valuable purpose, silenc'd, these
Debating Societies. They were at least, to say the lowest of them, far
better amusements than drunkenness, gambling, or fighting. They were no