SECTION II.

Residence and Employment in Liverpool.

I NOW began seriously to reflect on my situation as far as regarded myself, but much more so with reference to my good parents, particularly as the views I took, regarding the future employment of my life, did not exactly correspond with theirs. My father, having been brought up among the Cumberland farmers of the mountains, had imbibed their notions respecting the clergy, whom they venerated so highly, as to persuade themselves that salvation was most likely to be secured to the family, by the introduction of one of the sons into the Church. No wonder, therefore, he should be anxious to educate me for the clerical profession. I had a serious objection to enter into holy orders; I did not conceive that I was calculated for that sacred profession; besides, without a college education, there was no chance of my being ordained, and I pressed this point on my father's attention. A friend, however, he said, had told him that, at a small expense, he could send me, as a servitor, or sizar, to one of the universities. My parents and myself were most regular attendants at church; and though of a serious turn of mind, as I was by nature and disposition, I could not bring myself to think, that I ever should be reconciled to the clerical office, and therefore was desirous rather, discouraging as the prospect seemed, to take my chance a little longer, in the hope that something might turn up, to afford me employment more suitable to my feelings.

About this time, when I had just passed my fourteenth year, a lady from Liverpool called one day at the cottage, when I happened to be at home, and said, without ceremony, that she came from a friend of ours, and that her visit was to me; that her husband's name was Walker, the proprietor of a considerable ironfoundry in Liverpool; and that in the course of her visit to the north, he had wished her to look out for an active and intelligent youth, to superintend the workmen and keep the accounts of the factory, under the guidance and instruction of one who, from age and infirmity, could not long continue his employment; that the youth would live in the family; that they had one son of about ten years of age, who, being of a weakly habit, it was their object to give him instruction at home, at least for some time to come. "Now," she said, "from the character I have heard of you at Ulverstone, and from age and appearance (perhaps a little too young), I think you would answer our purpose; and I may say, I am prepossessed in your favour; and if you think that such an appointment would suit you, I will write to my husband to mention you to him."

This flattering conversation could not fail to captivate at once a youth of fourteen; and having no relish for an inactive life, seeing no prospect of immediate employment, and anxious to relieve my parents from the increasing expense of maintaining me at home, I thanked Mrs. Walker, and said I should most gratefully accept an offer so kindly made, should Mr. Walker be of the same opinion with herself. The offer was made, on the lady's reaching home, and I lost no time

in proceeding to Liverpool and joining my new friends and new abode in St. Thomas's Buildings.

The establishment of the iron-foundry was not very extensive, but it supplied labour to a considerable number and variety of workmen-foremen, moulders, carpenters, blacksmiths, and model-makers. There was also machinery for boring cannon, and other purposes. My duty was to overlook the workmen, to keep an account of the labour performed and to enter it in the books, to pay the weekly wages, to make the entries of all the metals received and of the manufactured goods delivered. I signed articles binding myself to serve three years; my salary was just enough to keep me handsomely in clothing and a little pocket-money.

Not long after my arrival, among the visitors of the manufactory was an Italian, from Naples, of the name of Leonardi, whose business in Liverpool, he told me, was to ascend in a balloon, the first he believed that had been sent up in England-at least, with any person in it; and as his was intended to be inflated with inflammable gas, he wished to know if he could be supplied with iron filings to produce it. We were just now boring up old guns for the merchants, war being declared against France and Spain, and there were plenty of borings to spare. This new species of flight into the air took hold of my fancy; the borings were supplied, and, with the permission (not readily granted) of Mr. Walker, I prevailed on Leonardi to let me accompany him, to which he made no objection, provided the balloon would rise with both, which was a point he could not say: however, when the day of trial came, the balloon was found wanting; it rose tardily

with Leonardi alone, and I was to be content to remain below.

I passed two years very comfortably, Mr. and Mrs. Walker being excellent people, and very kind to me; and I found the little son very tractable and docile, and had it in my power to be of some use to him. In the last year of my servitude, Mr. Walker expressed to me his great satisfaction, and said, as his health was breaking down, and would disable him soon from looking after his business, he was thinking of transferring it to his son, and that, if I agreed to continue, my name would appear in the concern, and I should be entitled to a certain share in the profits. To this I could not have the least objection. But, almost immediately after, and before the expiration of my time, he caught a very serious illness, which carried him off in a few days.

It now became a question with the widow, whether she, in conjunction with her son, and with my assistance, should undertake to carry on the business, or whether she should dispose of the whole concern. By the advice of her friends the latter plan was adopted, and probably she was well advised; for a youth of twelve and of a sickly habit, and myself also a youth under seventeen, might not be deemed competent to conduct a concern of that magnitude. It was therefore disposed of to a Liverpool ironmonger, who immediately offered me terms to continue; but being a stranger to me, and not likely that I should be considered in the same friendly light as with the Walkers, I thought it best to decline his offer.

During my residence in Liverpool, I had an opportunity of seeing, what very few have witnessed, Mrs. Siddons acting a romping character in a farce (Charlotte,

I think, the name is), the Apprentice.' The company had just arrived under her husband, Mr. Siddons, and the bill of fare had been distributed. The lady intended for the character failed to make her appearance, and Mrs. Siddons volunteered to take it, after having performed her part in a tragedy. Having never yet heard of Mrs. Siddons, she being, I believe, but just come out, I paid no attention to her acting. Her reputation, however, was speedily established; and having mentioned the incident in London, it was doubted, and thought to have been a mistake. As I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Siddons occasionally, many years after, I once took the liberty of asking her the question, observing to her, that my account of it had been doubted, and that some other had been mistaken for her. She replied, that she was then very young, and was often put into characters neither suitable nor agreeable to her.

SECTION III.

A Voyage to the Greenland Whale Fishery.

I was now released from all engagements, and had to consider very seriously what line of life I should be able to undertake, and as would most likely procure for me the means of an independent subsistence. I could no longer bear the idea of being burdensome to my parents; besides, a life spent in idleness and inactivity would be, to me, a life of misery. While pondering over various plans of pro