, was born 1730, and when a child, was of an amiable disposition,
, was born 1730, and when a child,
was of an amiable disposition, had an uncommon capacity
for learning, and discovered, very early, a genius for poetry. After some years passed at a school at Romford, in
Essex, under the care of his relation, the rev. Philip
Fletcher, afterwards dean of Kildare, and younger brother
to the bishop of that see, he was removed to a more eminent one at Felsted, in the same county. At this school
he was stimulated by emulation to an exertion of his talents; and, by a close application, he became the first
scholar, as well as captain of the school, and gained the
highest reputation; and by the sweetness of his temper
and manners, and by a disposition to friendship, he acquired and preserved the love of all his companions, and
the esteem of his master and family. He has, on some
particular occasions, been heard modestly to declare, that
he was never punished, during hib whole residence at
either school, for negligence in his lessons or exercise, or
for any other misdemeanor. He was very early qualified
for the university, and constantly improved himself, when
at home, by his private studies, and the assistance or his
father, happy in the companionship of such a son, who
was always dutiful and affectionate to him; and the first
literary characters of that time associated with a father and
son, whose polished taste and amiable manners rendered
them universally acceptable. He was entered, at the age
of sixteen, at Bene‘t-college, Cambridge, where Mr. Castle,
afterwards dean of Hereford, was then master: and he
was recommended to that college by archbishop Herring,
whom we have mentioned as his father’s particular friend.
The archbishop baptised his son, and promised to patronize him, if educated for the church, and therefore sent
him to the college where he had completed his own education. At the university he continued to rise in reputation as a scholar and a poet, and was always irreproachable
in his moral character: he had the happiness of forming
some connections there with men of genius an ’< virtue,
which lasted through life; but the first and strongest
attachment, in which he most delighted, end which reflected honour on his own merit, was the uninterrupted
friendship, and constant correspondence, which com.uued
to the last, with Mr. Greene, a very respectable clergyman of the diocese of Norwich, a man whose character for
learning and abilities, goodness and virtue, justly gained
him the esteem and love of all who had the happiness of his
acquaintance, whose testimony is real praise, who acknowledged the worth of his valuable friend, “and loved his
amiable and benevolent spirit.
”