itudes,
finally exalting him to the post of Prime Minister to Henry VIII. The
knowledge of geography and history displayed in this performance, is
declared by those who have read it, to be truly wonderful. Shortly after
he had reached his eighth year, he was sent to a school at Isleworth,
kept by a Dr. Greenlaw, and remained there four years. I have heard him
frequently describe his first arrival at the school, and several
incidents attending it, in such a manner as showed him then to have had
great shrewdness and keenness of observation. One, in particular, struck
me at the time as illustrative of his stern sense of right, and habits
of reflection, at that very early period. "I remember," said he, "that
soon after I had got to school, a big boy called me aside, and told me
very seriously that I must prepare for a terrible flogging on Saturday
morning, and that however well I behaved, it would signify nothing, for
it was an old custom at the school to flog a little boy on his first
Saturday, before the whole school, by way of example, and to make him
behave well. I was horribly frightened at this; but the first thing that
struck me, and kept me awake a good while thinking of it, was, how very
_unjust_ a thing it was to do this; and I thought so much of _this_,
that I do believe I was at length far more angry than frightened. Of
course, when Saturday came, I found it had been all a joke only; but I
always thought it a very disagreeable and improper joke." I have several
times heard Mr. Smith mention this little circumstance, and I have above
given many of his own expressions. He used to proceed to describe the
reasonings which he had held in his own mind upon this subject, all
which, he said, he vividly recollected; and it was certainly both
curious and interesting to hear how he puzzled himself in trying to find
out "reasons why it might be right to flog him under these
circumstances." Dr. Greenlaw was not slow in discovering the
extraordinary abilities of the little new-comer, and used to describe
them in glowing terms to his father; but would add that, much as he
admired the child's talent and diligence, he entertained a still higher
opinion of the little fellow's perfect modesty, his seeming
unconsciousness of his mental superiority over his companions, his
honesty and simplicity of character, and, above all, his unwavering and
inflexible adherence to truth on even the most trifling occasions. Every
living friend of h