Page images
PDF
EPUB

ART. XX. Lives of Modern Poets.

No. II.

SIR WILLIAM JONES.

(ABRIDGED FROM HIS LIFE BY Lord teignmoutH.)

Sir William Jones was the only son of William Jones, F.R.S. an eminent mathematician, who was a native of Wales, of humble origin, and born in Anglesey, in 1680. The account of this eminent person may be found in the Biographical Dictionary: he died in 1749, leaving by Mary, daughter of George Nix, a citizen of London, a daughter Mary, born 1736, afterwards married to Mr. Rainsford, a merchant,* and William the subject of this memoir, who was born in London, on the eve of the festival of St. Michael, 1746. By his father's death the care of the education of this future prodigy devolved on his mother, when he was three years old. Mrs. Jones was a woman of uncommon energy, and uncommon talent for instruction; and she gave herself to the cultivation of her son's mind. Her success was adequate to her efforts; and at three years old, her pupil could read distinctly and rapidly any English book. Afterwards an accident to one of his eyes gave some check to his progress; but his appetite for books increased; and in his fifth year he was so much struck by the sublimity of the description of the angel in the tenth chapter of the Apocalypse, as ever afterwards to remember it with emotions of rapture.

At Michaelmas, 1753, in his seventh year, he was sent to Harrow school, then under Dr. Thackeray,

* She died 1802.

VOL. IV.

М

where

where at first he was rather remarked for industry than talent; and after two years, having the misfortune to break his thigh-bone, was detained at home twelve months: a period not passed in indolence, but in familiarizing himself with the translations of Pope and Dryden, and in endeavours to imitate them.

This absence however operated to his disadvantage on his return to school, and most unjustly created prejudices against his capacity, or his application, which though punishment could not induce him to counteract by increased efforts, yet emulation soon excited him to overcome.

In his twelfth year, he arrived at the upper school, and now began to shew proofs of that extraordinary memory, which so distinguished him. At the same time he began to translate parts of Ovid and Virgil into English verse; and he composed a dramatic piece on the story of Meleager. Hence his reputation rose in the school; and he particularly excelled in his acquaintance with Latin Prosody.

When Jones was fifteen, Dr. Thackeray was succeeded by Dr. Sumner, who immediately took him under his patronage. From this time the following account of his character, habits, and acquirements, by his friend and schoolfellow, Sir John Parnell, stands on the best authority, and comprehends every thing

necessary.

"The early period of life is not usually marked by extraordinary anecdote: but small circumstances become interesting, when we can trace in them the first principles of virtue, and the first symptoms of those talents, which afterwards so eminently distinguished the character of Sir William Jones. He gave very early

early proofs of his possessing very extraordinary abilities. His industry was very great, and his love of literature was the result of disposition, and not of submission to controul. He excelled principally in his knowledge of the Greek language. His compositions were distinguished by his precise application of every word, agreeable to the most strict classical authority. He imitated the choruses of Sophocles so successfully, that his writings seemed to be original Greek compositions; and he was attentive even in writing the Greek characters with great correctness. His time being employed in study, prevented his joining in those plays and amusements which occupied the time of his other school-fellows; but it induced no other singularity in his manners: they were mild, conciliating and cheerful. When I first knew him, about the year 1761, he amused himself with the study of botany, and in collecting fossils. In general, the same pursuits which gave employment to his mature understanding, were the first objects of his youthful attention. The same disposition formed the most distinguished features at an early and at a late period of his life. A decision of mind, and a strict attachment to virtue, an enthusiastic love of liberty, an uniform spirit of philanthropy, were the characteristics of his youth, and of his manhood: he did no act, he used no expression, which did not justify these assertions."

The time now approached when Jones was to leave school, and his future destination became a subject of solicitude with his mother. Some of her friends advised the profession of the law, and an initiation into it by means of a special pleader's office, but the expense frightened her, and the barbarous language in which the

[blocks in formation]

science was clothed prejudiced her son. These reasons, strengthened by the wishes of Dr. Sumner, prevailed in favour of an university: and Oxford was with some hesitation fixed upon. In 1764 therefore he was removed to University College.

At Oxford he immediately experienced that disappointment, which all boys who have enjoyed the fame of a great school, and who expect that that fame, and the same value for their acquirements which they have hitherto enjoyed, will follow them, are sure to en

counter.

After a residence of a few months, he was elected one of the four scholars on the foundation of Sir Simon Bennct. He now began to indulge that passion for oriental literature, which he afterwards carried to so high a point; and by the help of a native of Aleppo acquired the pronunciation of Arabic. These occupations, with his Greek studies, which he continued to pursue with unabated application and ardour, soon reconciled him to his new station; and he received that countenance and respect from his tutors, which facilitated the advantageous employment of his time. He added the study of the Persic to that of the Arabic; and his progress in languages was already truly wonderful.

After a year, fearful of intrenching too far on the slender income of his mother, he accepted the situation of tutor to Lord Althorpe, now Lord Spencer, then a child, when he spent part of the year at Wimbledon Park, and part in London, and was now first introduced among the great. Here he first formed an acquaintance with Miss Shipley, afterwards Lady Jones. Nor was he unambitious of fashionable accomplishments. He

took

took the opportunity, while in the metropolis, of learning the arts of dancing and fencing. Lord Spencer's library afforded him inexhaustible entertainment and instruction; and here in his twenty-first year he began his Commentaries on Asiatic poetry. He was elected Fellow of his college, 7 Aug. 1766.

In 1767 he had an opportunity of seeing the Continent by attending the Spencer family in a journey to Spa. In the close of this year he is said to have conceived that resolution which afterwards fixed him to the profession of the bar, by reading Fortescue's Treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliæ.

In 1768, Mr. Sutton, Under Secretary of State, imposed upon him the task of translating the Life of Nadir Shah from an Eastern MS. at the desire of the King of Denmark. This was a tiresome task, which however he performed with credit to himself. It was published in 1770. To the History of Nadir Shah, he added a Treatise on oriental poetry in the language of the original, a work which no other person in England could then have performed.

In 1768 he formed an acquaintance with Reviczki, afterwards the Imperial Minister at Warsaw, and Ambassador at the Court of England, with the title of Count, an accomplished and learned nobleman, much addicted to oriental studies, and captivated by the splendid attainments of Jones. This intimacy produced a long, interesting, and learned correspondence.

Their correspondence was principally in Latin; in the first published letter of Jones are the following passages: "Permaguo enim vinculo conjungi solent ii, qui iisdem utuntur studiis, qui literas humaniores colunt, qui in iisdem curis et cogitationibus evigilant, Studia

11 3

« PreviousContinue »