nor less than to superintend the negroes. Of course I declined it. At length, however, a prospect was held out which, though not exactly what I could have wished, yet, if offered to me, I determined to accept. It is curious enough it came from the son of the wise man, in the Bank of England, who wrote to his father that Dr. James, who kept a large academy at Greenwich, had applied to him to know if he could recommend a north-country youth qualified to instruct from fifteen to twenty of the upper boys in mathematics; to have nothing to do with the rest of the school, and to live in the house; and Mr. Gibson, junior, further added, "He will have to undergo an examination by Dr. Maskelyne, the Astronomer Royal." This rather staggered me, but old Gibson said he was quite sure it would amount to nothing but what I could very well answer. Optimism here came to my relief, and I said to myself, this will lead to something better, and, at all events, will take me into the atmosphere of London. I therefore gave the old gentleman a provisional consent: he was much pleased, said he would write to his son in London, tell him all about me, and hoped, that in ten days or a fortnight, he would be able himself to bring the reply to Dragleybeck.

He did so, and also one from Dr. James, which was so perfectly satisfactory, and so urgent for my speedy appearance at Greenwich, that I lost no time in setting out by the coach-railways had not then entered into the head of man-arrived in London-and called on Mr. Gibson at the Bank. He took me down to Greenwich, and there I was fixed, if all went right, for the next three years. The family appeared to be pleasant; consisted of the master, who was a clergyman, and had

occasional duty to perform in the city of London; his lady; a son about my own age; and three daughters, all younger. About eighteen fine young men were introduced as my pupils, three or four of whom were in or destined for the navy, one a son of Lord Anson, and another of Lord Leveson Gower; which pleased me, as old Gibson had hinted every species of knowledge might be brought into play; that which he had recommended was on the eve of being so.

I had no examination to undergo by Dr. Maskelyne; and saw him but once, accidentally; but, some years after this, I became well acquainted with him at the Royal Society.

I need not dwell on the rules of the school, or the system of education. Suffice it to say, I was very much my own master; that I was greatly pleased with my pupils, and had no reason to think otherwise than that they were pleased with me; and I can safely say that, in instructing them, I gained instruction myself; and by having such youngsters under my tuition, I gained another great advantage, which tended to advance my progress in life. The scholars had six weeks holidays at Midsummer and at Christmas; and few of those in my class whose parents lived in London or the neighbourhood that did not invite me to their parents' houses; and thus I made acquaintance not only with them, but with their friends also; so that at the termination of my engagement, I had a large acquaintance resident in London.

Among these I was pressed by several to give instruction to their children; and, to such as were well advanced in years and knowledge I had no objection. Among others a lady pupil was recommended to me,

who was most desirous of going through Euclid, and of having explained to her the utility to which a knowledge of it was applicable; that is, the practical application of the theorems or problems. This was Lady Beaumont, the partner of Sir George Beaumont, most agreeable persons, with whom I lived on terms of intimacy during their lives; her ladyship induced a female friend to go through the same process. In this way I passed between two and three years in London, going down to Lancashire each year to visit my family.

On my last visit, before it was my destiny to leave England for a time, I found my parents happy and well, but my mother's eyesight, which had long been failing, was now quite gone; the principal uneasiness it occasioned her, was her inability to attend divine service, the church being a mile from the cottage, my father and mother having for more than twenty years never missed the two Sunday services; but my father read to her the morning lessons and the evening service regularly every Sunday. The loss of sight never interfered with my mother's usual cheerfulness, and the young ladies of Ulverstone were her constant and agreeable visiters.

One day, on my return to town, I was honoured with a visit from Sir George Staunton, a gentleman with whom I had not yet had the good fortune to meet, and who introduced himself by saying he was acquainted with several of my friends, and mentioned Doctor Gillies in particular, and some others, who were accustomed to meet at the Westminster Library. He said the object of his visit was to know if I had leisure time, and was willing to bestow a portion of it to give instruction, in the mathematics, to an only son, between the age of ten

and eleven years, who had been studying the classics under a German gentleman, residing in the house; that his son was a lively, animated boy, with more than average abilities, and great docility; "and," he added, "from the character I have heard of you, I think you both would be disposed to a mutual attachment." I thanked him for the obliging offer, and the friendly and courteous manner in which it was introduced, and was ready and most willing to afford to his son my best assistance. "I suppose," he said, "you are practically acquainted with astronomy, and know the constellations and principal stars by name. I am a great advocate

for practical knowledge!" I answered in the affirmative; and the constellations and astronomy brought vividly to my mind, my old friend Mr. Gibson, and the globe and the map of Town Bank school; and I was more than ever persuaded that all is for the best.

Sir George gave me his address in Bentinck Street, where, by appointment, I was to call on the following day.

I found Mr. Staunton to be all that his father had described, and far beyond what my imagination had figured him to be; and I may here say that, from that day to this, in which I am writing, whether together or separated by many thousand miles, we never ceased, as far as practicable, to exchange our mutual sentiments, which seldom, if ever, failed to be in accordance; and with regard to the late Sir George Staunton, I should be the most ungrateful person in the world, if I did not every where, and on every occasion, avow that to him, and through him, I am indebted for all the good fortune that has attended me through life, and that, whether present or absent, he ever had my interest at heart, as I shall have occasion to show.

CHAPTER II.

EARL OF MACARTNEY'S EMBASSY TO THE
EMPEROR OF CHINA.

SECTION I.

Preparation and Departure.

SIR GEORGE STAUNTON said to me one day, "You have no doubt heard rumours about an embassy to China: I have just come from Lord Macartney, who is nominated Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of China, and I have consented to accompany him, in the capacity of Secretary of Embassy and Minister Plenipotentiary; and my son George is to be of the party, which, I am not without hope, will include you also; and, under that idea, I have particularly requested his Lordship to place your name on the list of his suite, which he is to give in to-morrow. Knowing, as I have reason to do, his Lordship's desire to have about him such persons as are likely to be useful, in preference to others, I have been able to make a strong impression in your favour, as, I told him, you had already made in mine; but he complains of the East India Company being stingy as to the number and emoluments of his suite. I hope we shall succeed; for it is very much my wish, as well as that of my son, that you should be one of the party about to proceed to a country so little known, and to a city so rarely visited, as Pekin; and, if I mistake not, you would be glad of so favourable an oppor