CHAPTER III.

EDIAL THE CAPTAIN'S RETURN AND DEATH-JOURNEY TO LONDON.-1734-1737.

Now, when Captain Garrick has been some two or three years away, reappears David's friend and companion, Johnson, who has been at the University, and tried many schemes and places, since he has had the usher's "hod" upon his shoulders. At this crisis Mr. Walmesley-the influential registrar, the wealthy bachelor and patron-proposes a scheme, which may benefit his two protégés. He points out to Johnson, that close to Lichfield, at Edial (or Edjal, as it was popularly pronounced), was lying vacant an old square-built house, with a high roof, cupola, and gallery on the top, and suggested that Johnson should take and open it as an academy. It was his suggestion too, that Garrick, then about eighteen, should try and complete his education in French and Latin, under so competent and so friendly a master. His advice was taken, and David and his brother George became the first pupils. A few neighbours, no doubt out of deference to the high influence of the bishop's registrar, sent him their sons; among which was Mr. Offley, a young gentleman of condition, and Hawkesworth, afterwards the laborious voyage compiler. But at no time did the pupils exceed seven or eight. David must indeed have been well grounded there, for he told a friend he once was able to repeat all the Greek roots by heart; and that on leaving Lichfield, his friend Walmesley gave him a copy of the "Racines Grecques," exacting a promise that he would learn a portion every day by heart.

The principal of the academy had married, and had now some one to direct his household-that grotesque figure of a wife, who was much older than the principal himself the well-known "Tetty," with cheeks flaming with daubs of rouge and the use of cordials; so round, stout, and fantastic, and gaudy in her dress. She was an infinite source of entertainment to the two pupils, and Garrick long after used to divert his friends with a mimicry of the oddities and affectations of this strange lady. The uncouth fondness of her husband was no less diverting. One of Garrick's happiest pictures, with which he used to make his friends roar, was that of their master's going to bed, which the mischievous youth observed through the keyhole. The master was then actively engaged on his stilted, untheatrical

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play of "Irene," and perhaps little thought that the pupil, who he fancied was fast asleep below, would one day gratefully bring it out for him at the greatest of the London theatres, or lend it the assistance of his own admirable acting. Every one in Lichfield knew the grand scheme Mr. Johnson was busy with. Peter Garrick, the midshipman, then at home, was applied to for his copy of "The Turkish History," to supply colour and "properties." The work was brought to the bishop's palace and read to Mr. Walmesley, who made a natural objection, that when the heroine, even at that imperfect stage, was in such extremity of distress, how was he to contrive to plunge her into deeper calamity? The author had a pleasant answer ready: "Sir," he said, slyly, "I can put her into the spiritual court;" Mr. Walmesley's own court. His liveliest scholar was, even then, busy working for the stage, and instead of the exercise which the master expected, would produce some scenes of a comedy. This, he said, had been his third attempt at writing; and with a tragedy and a comedy thus in their hands at the same time, it is not likely that much attention could be given to the more solemn duties of education. Still the master did not allow the old familiarity to interfere with what he felt to be his duty, and would enforce his teachings vigorously. Long after, when he had been facing audiences for thirty years, he told Dr. Monsey, he never could shake off a certain awe in Johnson's presence, which he traced back to a feeling that the Doctor had been his schoolmaster in these old Edial days.

Still the academy did not prosper. Perhaps it was too ambitious in name or pretension. David had now left; indeed, brought home by the joyful return of the wished-for father. The never-wearying intercession, the affectionate scheming of his wife and children, had at last prevailed, and now, by the beginning of the year 1736, he was back once more at Lichfield. Some forty years later, as Stockdale relates, the son recalled the raptures of that return, and reproached himself for a light speech, for which his joy and good spirits only were accountable. "I dare say, sir," he said, slyly, "I have now a good many brothers and sisters at Gibraltar;" a piece of raillery, in the prevailing key of the day, which brought fresh tears to Mrs. Garrick's gentle eyes. But there were other reasons beside those of affection, which brought the captain home. His health, shattered by travel and climate, was beginning to fail him, and it became therefore his first concern to establish David (now close upon twenty), and start him suitably in life. The captain's means were still scanty enough, and he was busy ne

gotiating some means of disposing of his commission, for the benefit of his wife and children. Their neighbour, Mr. Walmesley, was once more called into council, to advise on Davy's prospects and choice of a profession. And this seemed all that the Garrick family might now reasonably look for from their old friend and patron, as he had only a few months before married the sister of that " "Molly Aston on whose charms Johnson used to dwell with almost senile raptures. This was a really heavy blow: for the family had not unnaturally looked to his making a provision for the youth he esteemed so highly.

Various plans were proposed. A university education was put aside as too costly. The Bar was at last finally decided upon; though there was a difficulty in the way as to how the necessary preparation was to be secured, without attendance at a university. Here Mr. Walmesley good-naturedly came to their aid. There happened to be living in Rochester a very old friend and fellow-townsman of his, the Rev. Mr. Colson, a mathematician of reputation, whose contributions to the scientific journals of the day were well known. To him (in February, 1736) Mr. Walmesley wrote the "strongest and warmest letter, asking him as a favour to take David, and teach him "mathematics, philosophy, and humane learning," and giving his protégé the very highest character. "My neighbour, Captain Garrick (who is a honest, valuable man), has a son, a very sensible young fellow," says Mr. Walmesley, giving a little sketch of his friend, "a good scholar, .. of sober and good disposition, and is as ingenious and promising a young man as ever I knew in my life." He adds that he will trespass very little on Mr. Colson's instructions, and will be found a pleasant companion at recreation. "This young gentleman, you must know," goes on Mr. Walmesley, "has been very much with me, ever since he was a child,—almost every day. I have taken a pleasure often in instructing him, and have a great affection and esteem for him." The captain, he said, could not hope to send him to the Temple, for some two or three years as yet. Any reasonable sum would be paid, "and I shall think myself very much obliged to you into the bargain."

But this arrangement, for some reason, was not at once completed. It would be hard for the needy captain to get together funds enough for so serious an expedition. Meanwhile David might have continued attending his friend's instruction, who had now appealed for pupils, in the well-known advertisement which appeared in "The Gentleman's Magazine":—“ At Edial, near Lichfield, in Staffordshire, young gentlemen are boarded,

and taught the Latin and Greek languages, by SAMUEL JOHNSON."

It was at last determined that David should be sent to the Rochester clergyman, who accepted the charge. By this time, Johnson's Edial House business had quite languished out, he saw here an opportunity for going to try his fortune, and on the morning of March the 2nd, 1737, the two friends set out together for London. Mr. Walmesley commended Johnson also to Mr. Colson's kind offices as "a poet," and likely to turn out "a fine tragedy writer." This was only the old pattern of adventure every one with "parts as it was called-every provincial light posting up to the great market with a heavy poem or play in his pocket. Long after, they looked back to this pleasant adventure, and often talked over its incidents. Johnson, whose little weakness was a perpetual discontent that "a mere player" should have been more successful in the world than a grand moralist, was not sorry to hint at their little shifts on this occasion. In a large company, the quick ear of Garrick would hear the Doctor fixing a date by a something beginning: "That was the year when I came to London with twopence-halfpenny in my pocket" when, not without surprise at such a statement, Garrick would repeat, "With twopence-halfpenny in your pocket?" "Why, yes," roars the Doctor, "with twopence-halfpenny; and thou, Davy, with three-halfpence in thine!" Garrick's good humour could make him accept so disagreeable a fiction without remonstrance. They made their journey, however, economically. "We rode and tied," said Garrick, later, alluding to a thrifty mode by which two people could contrive to have the benefit of one horse between them, for their travelling. But, as Boswell says, this was a mere complacent embellishment. Thus they got on to London. They stayed together in town a short time, presently found their slender stock of money all but exhausted. In this extremity, young Garrick recollected a bookseller named Wilcox, of whom he knew a very little; and both going to him, and telling their story, simply and naturally, he was induced to advance them five pounds on their joint note, which in a very short time they punctually took up and satisfied.*

David, however, contrived to save the three or four pounds necessary for his fees, and lost no time in entering as a student of the "Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn." On the 9th of

The story of the loan is told by Sir John Hawkins, who says he had it from " an eye-witness."

March his name was enrolled.* The "vivacity" and "gaiety" which made the young man such a welcome companion, hint to us a little unsteadiness and taste for pleasure, which, in one of his "sprightly parts," exposed to the seductions of the capital, was almost pardonable. Bright, good-looking, full of intelligence and wit, of "a neat figure" we are told, though short, he found himself thrown away on the dull society of the country town, where they must have owned, in their uncouth dialect, that he was far "shuperior" to them. The early difficulties-the bookseller's loan-show that he had been sent up to town, not so much to benefit by Mr. Colson's training, as to look about, and see what might turn up, or what his relations would be inclined to do for him.† But in this short round of trifling, he was to be startled by a fatal piece of news-which interrupted all these plans.

In the January of that year the captain had found his way to London, where he was seized with his last illness, and had taken the opportunity of executing his will. He had full sense of his failing health, and the immediate business of his visit. was, no doubt, to try and negotiate the sale of his captaincy, from which he hoped to make provision for his children. He seems to have nearly succeeded in concluding, for a sum of eleven hundred pounds, but was not able to complete the contract. And it almost seems as though he was reckoning on this sum when, on the first day of the new year, 1737, he sat down to dispose of his property. To his three elder children. he gave five hundred pounds each: to one son four hundred ; and to the two youngest children, three hundred each. Last of all came this bequest" To my son David, One Shilling." This might well startle us who have been following the charming and filial letters the boy was writing to his absent father. This severity might be accounted for satisfactorily. The Portuguese-wine uncle had now come over, full of years and wealth, had seen his nephew, and had taken, in the best part, an off-hand

* The following is a copy of the entry :-" David Garrick, gentleman, second son of Captain Peter Garrick, is admitted into the society of this Inn, the 9th day of March, in the tenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George II., by the grace of God, King of Great Britain and Ireland, A.D. 1736, and hath paid to the use of this society the sum of three pounds, three shillings, and fourpence."

+ Davies seems to have heard something to this effect; for he says that "when Garrick arrived in town, he found that his finances would not enable him to put himself under the care of Mr. Colson."

From a letter written to the editor of "The Gentleman's Magazine by one of the Garrick family, and signed E. G.-see "Gentleman's Magazine," 1779.