andMrs。Piozzihaspreservedhisverypicturesquedescriptionofthescene，asitremaineduponhisfancy。BeingaskedifhecouldrememberQueenAnne，’Hehadhesaidaconfused，butsomehowasortofsolemnrecollectionofaladyindiamonds，andalongblackhood。’Thistouch，however，waswithoutanyeffect。Iventuredtosaytohim，inallusiontothepoliticalprinciplesinwhichhewaseducated，andofwhichheeverretainedsomeodour，that’hismotherhadnotcarriedhimfarenough；sheshouldhavetakenhimtoROME。’
HewasfirsttaughttoreadEnglishbyDameOliver，awidow，whokeptaschoolforyoungchildreninLichfield。Hetoldmeshecouldreadtheblackletter，andaskedhimtoborrowforher，fromhisfather，abibleinthatcharacter。WhenhewasgoingtoOxford，shecametotakeleaveofhim，broughthim，inthesimplicityofherkindness，apresentofgingerbread，andsaid，hewasthebestscholarsheeverhad。Hedelightedinmentioningthisearlycompliment：adding，withasmile，that’thiswasashighaproofofhismeritashecouldconceive。’HisnextinstructorinEnglishwasamaster，whom，whenhespokeofhimtome，hefamiliarlycalledTomBrown，who，saidhe，’publishedaspelling-
book，anddedicatedittotheUNIVERSE；but，Ifear，nocopyofitcannowbehad。’
HebegantolearnLatinwithMr。Hawkins，usher，orunder-masterofLichfieldschool，’amansaidheveryskilfulinhislittleway。’
Withhimhecontinuedtwoyears，andthenrosetobeunderthecareofMr。Hunter，theheadmaster，who，accordingtohisaccount，’wasverysevere，andwrong-headedlysevere。Heusedsaidhetobeatusunmercifully；andhedidnotdistinguishbetweenignoranceandnegligence；forhewouldbeataboyequallyfornotknowingathing，asforneglectingtoknowit。Hewouldaskaboyaquestion；andifhedidnotanswerit，hewouldbeathim，withoutconsideringwhetherhehadanopportunityofknowinghowtoanswerit。Forinstance，hewouldcallupaboyandaskhimLatinforacandlestick，whichtheboycouldnotexpecttobeasked。Now，Sir，ifaboycouldanswereveryquestion，therewouldbenoneedofamastertoteachhim。’