place a teacher of ability could not be found. There are other parts of Cumberland, the parish of Martindale for example, where the science of mathematics was well taught in the days of our grandfathers, but where both scholars and instruction in the most elementary English books could with difficulty be had within these three years. Dalton must certainly have surpassed the other scholars when he began to teach at the age of twelve. The school was kept in the Friends' Meeting House, at Eaglesfield, still a school-room.* We are not told if he succeeded his teacher in this, or where Mr. Fletcher afterwards lived. We may picture to ourselves the struggles of the determined boy, working hard at his father's farm in the summer time, as we are informed he did, and helping also to repair the old farm house, but working with still more determination in winter which afforded him the chief opportunities for study, and when the boys from the various farms congregated to the school, their parents not being able to spare them from their work during the busy season of the year. We can picture the indomitable youth, as an old pupil of his, John Robinson, now living at Eaglesfield, has pictured him, struggling for that authority needed to maintain order, but feeling that there was no struggle needed to shew the superiority of his information. Being as old or older than himself they would not be silenced or commanded, and determined as himself they challenged him into the surrounding grave-yard to fight. It is not said whether he accepted the challenge, but he sometimes took the more dignified mode of locking-up the more refractory, repeating in the school-room that they might learn their tasks whilst he went to his dinner. For this, however, he was sometimes at least the greatest sufferer, as they broke the windows in revenge.† * Pens and ink were announced as to be sold within. From Mr. Dickinson's Letter. Occupied in teaching and in the work of the farm the foundations of an active mind and raised up a vig well-knit frame, which underwent great exertion till a vanced age with little interruption from ill health. we see the self-reliance which was strong in him th life; at an age when most persons are mere childre sought to some extent to rule; and when most persons scarcely begun to learn soundly, he sought to teach. also, we see that peculiarity of his mind, which did not to acquire a great mass of information otherwise tha investigation, and had more pleasure in making use of it had attained either by conveying it to others, or as a for search. These united causes throw some light o early grasp at independence, as it was not necessity compelled him to work, nor the want of the means of li which had never failed him. As we are obliged to arrive at his early character ch by inference, we must the more carefully remember, wh more directly told of him, his great diligence. This tinued with him through life, and his theory of success made in the belief that diligence constituted the main ference amongst men engaged in intellectual pursuits. principal study in early life was mathematics, which learned with a boy of the name of William Balderst receiving assistance from a gentleman in the neighbourh of the name of Robinson, who fortunately had education well as property. He and his accomplished wife readily g their assistance in conducting the studies of Dalton, and companion who was in their service. These boys fi with emulation solved problems in numbers and in forms active minded boys still do over all the country. Bald stone bet Dalton sixpence on a proposition in geometry, Mr. Robinson objected, and proposed rather that whoe lost should supply the other with candles during the win Dalton's answer is generally said to be, "yan might do for although his parents had got over one of their early difficulties, that of "keeping him out of the dubs," they had not yet taught him to speak other than his native dialect, which he not unfrequently used also in later life, thereby giving pith or humour to his conversation. We scarcely know if the mention of "dubs" means that he was fonder than other children of such things, or whether his love of nature first took its rise in this common although unpromising amuse ment. This acquaintance with Mr. Robinson began when Dalton was about ten years old, about the age when he solved a problem, discussed on a hay field among the farm people, whether sixty yards square or sixty square yards are the same. He at first considered them the same, but reflection shewed him the difference. Dalton seldom failed for want of perseverance; he cheered his weary companion who was soon outstripped, and who lived to look on the youth to whom he supplied candles, with the reverence of those who deeply conscious of ignorance imagine in knowledge the most extravagant powers. Dalton insisted on the importance of diligence, without however considering that the work on which his fame was founded was done comparatively in early life, and that his subsequent unwearied application in no ways tended to elevate his position in science. There is seldom much fame for the idler, but we err greatly when we say a word to dishonour the greatest of all gifts, which cannot be called by a less name than Divine, the eye of genius. On leaving the boyhood of Dalton we are not called to look on it with surprise, we see in it indications of force, but an equal display is sometimes apparent in less gifted men. We can scarcely look with wonder at the elevation we have seen him attain above his humble fellow-students and pupils. Self-cultivation, too, is a problem now happily so often solved by those who have nothing of true genius, that we с can only look on his acquirements at that time as attainable with the greatest ease by one who had evidently that gift in great force. After spending about three years teaching in this school he left Eaglesfield. About this time, getting on in life as he thought, he first saw an umbrella in Cockermouth, and bought one, thinking, as he afterwards expressed it, that he was now becoming a gentleman. This happened in 1781, when he became assistant to his cousin, George Bewley, who kept a school in Kendal. His brother Jonathan had been there as assistant for some time previously. In this place twelve years of his life were spent, and here his true education began. He had learned some Latin and Greek, but neither now nor at any time of his life does he seem to have attended much to literature or philology. He is said to have had such an excellent memory that he repeated some of Anacreon's Odes forty years after he had read them, but a few of Anacreon's musical lines seem to be the common property of school boys, who learn them easily from their sound, whilst this knowledge gives no indication whatever of proficiency in the language. A few old Greek books were sold with the rest of his library, partly his own and partly his brother's small stock, at Kendal. The Greek dictionary, a Schrevelius, seems never to have been used. Reading Greek books was no sport for a man who made forty thousand meteorological observations. In Kendal he became acquainted with Mr. Gough, a man who although blind from infancy, was possessed of high scientific attainments. The mutual assistance rendered is best expressed in Dalton's own words. "For about eight years during my residence in Kendal, we were intimately acquainted; Mr. Gough was as much gratified with imparting his stores of science, as I was in receiving them: my use to him was chiefly in reading, writing, and making calculations and diagrams; and in participating with him in the pleasure resulting from successful investigations: but as Mr. Gough was above receiving any pecuniary recompense, the balance of advantage was greatly in my favour; and I am glad to have this opportunity of acknowledging it. It was he who first set the example of keeping a meteorological journal at Kendal." Meteor. Observ. and Essays. Preface, 1834. In an earlier edition Dalton had mentioned Gough as an unknown friend; in the quotation given he does him that justice which in his lifetime he was forbidden to do. Mr. T. T. Wilkinson mentions that Dr. Whewell and several other distinguished wranglers were prepared for their contests by Mr. Gough. He himself wrote no separate work, but many of his scientific memoirs have appeared. As a man he seems to have inspired great respect in all who knew him, and he must have been no common person of whom Wordsworth wrote; Methinks I see him how his eyeballs roll'd The Excursion. The poet, in a letter to Mr. Samuel Crompton, of Manchester, writes, "Your conjecture concerning that passage is remarkable; Mr. Gough, of Kendal, whom I had the pleasure of knowing, was the person from whom I drew the picture, which was in no respect exaggerated. He was a most extraordinary person, highly gifted, &c. The sadness which the contemplation of blindness always produces, was in Mr. Gough's case tempered by admiration and wonder in the most affecting manner." During the time that Dalton was enjoying the instruction and advice, as well as the library and scientific apparatus of |