useless Schools to some of our very celebrated Speakers at the Bar and in
Parliament: and, what is of infinitely more importance, they contributed
to the diffusion of Political Knowledge and Public Sentiment. L.]
at _Coachmaker's-hall_, but not often; and a few times to _Covent-garden
Theatre_. These are all the opportunities he ever had to learn from Public
Speakers. As to _Books_, he had to wade through two or three Folios: an
_History of England, British Traveller_, and a _Geography_. But he always
read them as a task, or to oblige us who bought them. And as they came in
sixpenny numbers weekly, he had about as many hours to read as other boys
spend in play."

"I at that time," proceeds his Brother, "read the _London Magazine_; and
in that work about two sheets were set apart for a _Review ... Robert_
seem'd always eager to read this Review. Here he could see what the
Literary Men were doing, and learn how to judge of the merits of the Works
that came out. And I observ'd that he always looked at the _Poet's
Corner_. And one day he repeated a _Song_ which he compos'd to an old
tune. I was much surpris'd that a boy of sixteen [Footnote: He was
probably 17; as appears on the statement from the Author himself. See N.
to p. xvii.] should make so smooth verses: so I persuaded him to try
whether the Editor of our Paper would give them a place in _Poet's
Corner_. And he succeeded, and they were printed. And as I forget his
other early productions, I shall copy this."


THE MILK-MAID, ON THE FIRST OF MAY.

Hail, MAY! lovely MAY! how replenish'd my pails!
The young Dawn overspreads the East streak'd with gold!
My glad heart beats time to the laugh of the Vales,