ent to Mr. Clements, the builder at
Norwich, and said, "Well, Clements, you have built a machine to surprise
all the world, and I am come to surprise you by paying you for it." And
to show his early quick perception, ready reply, wilfulness, and
precocity, I must here relate two well-attested anecdotes: the first,
when quite a child, and at his lessons in the nursery, on his mother's
running up to dispel the noise and disturbance he was making, she
exclaimed in anger, after in some measure correcting him, "Why, sir, if
you go on in this manner you'll turn the house out of the windows," the
young gentleman, looking roguishly at his mother, responded, "How can I
do that, Ma, for the house is bigger than the windows?" this of course
dissipated all anger, and brought a smile to the mother's face; silence,
however, was restored and study resumed. The other, when he was about
eleven or twelve years of age, a poor soldier, who had been kind to him,
assisting him in his fishing, boating, &c., and who was at that time
cleaning harness for my brother in the stable, was arrested by an escort
of soldiers, who suddenly came to apprehend and convey him, for some
alleged offence, to the head quarters at Yarmouth; without saying a word
or leaving a message behind him, young Henry started off with his friend
and the soldiers, telling the captive, "Never to care, for he would be
his advocate." He was, after some time had elapsed, missed; search was
made for him in every direction till night came on, but no traces of his
whereabouts could be discovered, and, with fearful anxiety, as I have
heard my father often say, all, at last, worn out and weary with the
fruitless search, retired to bed, but not to rest; care brooded over
their pillows and dispelled sleep. Morning, at last, came, but with it
no tidings of Henry; and, when alarm had reached its height, in ran the
servant lad, in breathless haste, exclaiming, "Master Henry is found,"
and soon after he was seen, being borne in triumph on a soldier's back,
with others following, coming up the lawn. All were delighted to see the
lost one safe, and, to delight was added astonishment, on a soldier
putting into his father's hand a letter, which was quickly opened and
read, and which came from the commanding officer. I regret that letter
is lost; it spoke, I have often heard my father and mother relate, in the
highest terms of the youngster, and warmly congratulating the former on
the posse