they seem to have reciprocated the attachment. Lord Eldon kept up his correspondence with his old preceptor, amid all the honors and distinctions which future years showered on him. One of the first acts of his Chancellorship was to make Mr. Moises one of his chaplains. He twice afterward offered him still more substantial preferment; this the old man declined, but the patronage was bestowed upon his family.

Lord Stowell having gone to Oxford, and commenced his career with great success, it was intended that John should follow his father's occupation. His brother, however, who knew his great abilities, would not allow them to be so buried. "Send Jack here," he wrote from Oxford; "I can do better for him." And to Oxford Jack was sent accordingly, and entered as a commoner of University College, in the year 1766, under the tutorship of his brother.

The only distinction which Lord Eldon acquired at Oxford, was gaining the Lichfield prize by an "Essay on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Foreign Travel." He took his Bachelor's degree, and intended to prosecute his studies for the Church. But an event, fortunately as it turned out, averted the whole current of his life. He fell in love with the daughter of a townsman of his father's, and we trace half-stifled lamentations in his letters to his companions from Oxford. At last, he eloped with the lady to Scotland: the relations were highly displeased with the match, and the fortunes of the bridegroom were supposed to be so completely marred by this exploit, that a wealthy grocer in Newcastle offered to his father to take him into partnership, as the only means of establishing him respectably. The proposal was so far entertained as to be referred to William Scott for his opinion; but his answer in the negative preserved his brother for greater things. Lord Eldon's marriage, however, rendered it impossible for him to prosecute his views toward the church with any chance of success, unless a living should fall vacant to his College during the first year: he accordingly resolved to turn himself to the law, and entered in the Middle Temple, in January, 1773. The year of grace passed without any College living becoming vacant, and thus was his destiny conclusively fixed. While keeping his terms in the Temple, he continued his residence at Oxford, assiduously prosecuting his legal studies, and employed partly as tutor of University College, during 1774-75, and partly as Deputy Professor of Law, for which service he received 60l. a year. He relates that immediately after he was married, the Law Professor sent him the first lecture to read immediately to the students, and this he began without knowing a single word that was in it. It was upon the

statute of young men running away with young maidens. "Fancy me," he says, "reading, with about one hundred and forty boys and young men all giggling at the Professor. Such a tittering audience no one ever had!"

Lord Eldon well remembered Johnson in college at Oxford. He relates of the Doctor:

"If put out of temper, he was not very moderate in the terms in which he expressed his displeasure. I remember that in the common-room of University College, he was dilating upon some subject, and the then head of Lincoln College, Dr. Mortimer, was present. Whilst Johnson was stating what he proposed to communicate, the Doctor occasionally interrupted him, saying, 'I deny that! This was often repeated, and observed upon by Johnson, as it was repeated, in terms expressive of exceeding displeasure and anger. At length, upon the Doctor's repeating the words 'I deny that,' 'Sir, sir,' said Johnson, 'you must have forgot that an author has said, Plus negabit unus asinus in una hora, quam centum philosophi probaverint in centum annis.'"

Lord Eldon finally removed to London in 1775, but with gloomy prospects, being almost without a sixpence he could call his own, and receiving little attention from his father and other relations. Indeed, the generosity and kindness of his brother William, for which in after-life he was always deeply grateful, were chiefly instrumental in enabling him to prosecute his views for the bar. He first lived in Cursitor-street, of which he used to say: "Many a time have I run down from Cursitor-street to Fleet-market, to get sixpennyworth of sprats for supper." Lord Eldon was called to the bar in 1776. He waited long in vain for clients, and had resolved to quit Westminster Hall, to seek his native city; when the accident of a leading counsel's sudden indisposition introduced him to the notice of the profession, and his success at the bar became thenceforth certain.*

THE TWO BROTHERS MILNER.

These eminent churchmen were originally Yorkshire weavers, but were, by fortuitous circumstances, well educated. Joseph Milner, born in 1744, was sent to the grammar-school at Leeds, where, by his industry and talents, among which a memory of most extraordinary power was conspicuous, he gained the warm regard of his instructor, who resolved to have him sent to college. This plan was nearly frustrated by the death of Milner's father, in very narrow circumstances; but by the assistance of some gentlemen in Leeds, whose children Milner had lately engaged in teaching, he was sent to Catherine Hall, Cambridge, at the age of 18. He afterward became head-master of Hull

*At Vauxhall, a Public School for 140 boys was founded in 1829, by Mr. Charles Francis, of Belgrave House, "to perpetuate the memory of the Earl of Eldon, and to commemorate his able, zealous, and constant defense of the Protestant Reformed Religion against every innovation." The School-house, a Tudor building, is adorned with a statue of Lord Eldon, upon the anniversary of whose birthday, June 4, the public examination of the boys takes place.

grammar-school, and vicar of that parish, and wrote many learned works, of which his History of the Church of Christ is the principal.

His brother, Isaac Milner, Dean of Carlisle, born in 1751, at the age of six accompanied him to the Leeds grammar-school; but at his father's death, he was taken away to learn the woolen manufacture. When Joseph Milner was appointed to the headmastership of the Hull grammar-school, he released his brother from his engagements at Leeds, and took him under his own tuition, employing him as his assistant in teaching the younger boys. In the Life of his brother, the Dean expresses his sense of this kindness with affectionate warmth. In 1770, Isaac Milner entered Queen's College, Cambridge: here he rose to be Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, and he was twice ViceChancellor. He became the intimate friend of Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. Pitt. He was a man of extensive and accurate learning; wrote several works; and greatly assisted his brother Joseph in his History of the Church.

HOW WILLIAM GIFFORD BECAME A SCHOLAR AND CRITIC.

William Gifford, the eminent critic, was born in 1755, at Ashburton, in Devonshire; and by the early death of both parents, was left, at the age of 13, penniless, homeless, and friendless. He had learned reading, writing, and a little arithmetic, when his godfather took charge of him, sent him again to school; but just as Gifford was making considerable progress in artithmetic, his patron grew tired of the expense, and took him home to employ him as a plow-boy, for which, however, he was unfit. It was next resolved that he should be sent to Newfoundland to assist in a storehouse; but for this he was declared "too small." He was then sent as a cabin-boy, on board a coasting vessel, where he remained about a twelvemonth, during which time the only book he saw was the "Coasting Pilot." His godfather then took him home, and sent him again to school, where, in a few months, he became head boy. His godfather now thought he "had learned enough, and more than enough, at school," and apprenticed him to a shoemaker at Ashburton. But Gifford's strong thirst for knowledge had not abated: mathematics at first were his favorite study; and he relates that, for want of paper, he used to hammer scraps of leather smooth, and work his problems on them with a blunt awl: for the rest, his memory was tenacious, and he could multiply and divide by it to a great extent. His master finding his services worth nothing, used harsh means to wean him from his literary tastes; and Gifford, hating his business, sank into a sort of savage melan

choly. From this state he was withdrawn by the active kindness of Mr. Cookesly, a surgeon, of Ashburton, who had seen some rhymes by Gifford, and with his sad story, conceived a strong regard for him, and raised "a subscription for purchasing the remainder of the time of William Gifford, and for enabling him to improve himself in writing and English grammar.' Enough was collected to free him from his apprenticeship; he was placed at school, and in two years sent to Exeter College, Oxford. Not long after, Mr. Cookesley died; but a more efficient patron was raised up in Earl Grosvenor, who who gave Gifford a home in his own mansion. A long and prosperous life followed: he executed translations of Latin poets; edited the works of Massinger, Ben Jonson, Ford, and Shirley; and was appointed editor of the Quarterly Review upon its first establishment. He died in 1826, leaving the bulk of his fortune to the son of his first patron, Mr. Cookesley.

LORD NELSON'S SCHOOLS IN NOrfolk.

Horatio Nelson was born with a quick good sense, an affectionate heart, and a high spirit, by which qualities his boyhood was strongly marked. He was the fifth son and the sixth child of Edmund and Catherine Nelson; his birth took place in 1758, in the parsonage-house of Burnham Thorpe, a village in the county of Norfolk, of which his father was rector. The maiden name of his mother was Suckling;* her grandmother was an elder sister of Sir Robert Walpole, and this child was named after his godfather, the first Lord Walpole. Horatio "was never of a strong body," says Southey; "and the ague, which was at that time one of the most common diseases in England, had greatly reduced his strength;" yet he very early gave proofs of that resolute heart and nobleness of mind which, during his whole career of labor and of glory, so eminently distinguished him. When a mere child, he strayed a bird's-nesting from his grandmother's house, in company with a cow-boy; the dinnerhour elapsed, he was absent, and could not be found; when the alarm of the family became very great, for they apprehended that he might have been carried off by gipsies. At length, after search had been made for him in various directions, he was discovered alone, sitting composedly by the side of a brook which he could not get over. "I wonder, child," said the old lady when she saw him, "that hunger and fear did not drive you home." "Fear! grandmamma," replied the future hero; “I never saw fear--what is it ?"

* A descendant of Sir John Suckling, the poet. One of the family married a descendant of Inigo Jones.

Nelson was first sent to a small school at Downham; and in the market-place, as often as he could get there, he might be seen, working away, in his little green coat, at the pump, till, by the help of his school-fellows, a sufficient pond was made for floating the little ship which he had cut with a knife, and rigged with a paper sail. An incident, showing Nelson's compassionate disposition, is related of him at this age. A shoemaker of Downham had a pet-lamb, which he kept in his shop; and one day Nelson accidentally jammed the animal between the door and the door-post, when the little fellow's sorrow for the pain he had unwittingly inflicted was excessive, and for some time uncontrollable.

Horatio was next sent, with his brother William, to a larger school at North Walsham, where another characteristic incident occurred. There were some fine pears growing in the schoolmaster's garden, which the boys regarded as lawful booty, and in the highest degree tempting; but the boldest among them was afraid to venture for the fruit. Horatio volunteered upon the service he was lowered down at night from the bed-room window by some sheets, he plundered the tree, and was drawn up with the pears, which he distributed among his school-fellows, without reserving any for himself "I only took them," he said, "because every other boy was afraid."

Nelson's mother died in 1767, leaving eight out of eleven children. Her brother, Captain Maurice Suckling, of the Navy, visited the widow upon this event, and promised to take care of one of the boys. Three years afterward, when Horatio was only twelve years of age, being at home for the Christmas holidays, he read in the county newspaper that his uncle was appointed to the Raisonnable, of 64 guns. "Do, William," said he to a brother who was a year and a half older than himself, "write to my father, and tell him that I should like to go to sea with uncle Maurice." Mr. Nelson was then at Bath: his circumstances were straitened, and he knew that it was the wish of providing for himself by which Horatio was chiefly actuated; he did not oppose his resolution; he understood the boy's character, and had always said that in whatever station he might be placed, he would climb, if possible, to the very top of the tree. Accordingly, Captain Suckling was written to: "What," said he, in his answer, "has poor Horatio done, who is so weak, that he, above all the rest, should be sent to rough it out at sea ?— But let him come, and the first time we go into action, a cannonball may knock off his head, and provide for him at once."

The brothers returned to their school at North Walsham. Not