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HIS FATHER'S DEATH

7

reason which prompted him to leave the field. There seems to have been nothing definitely the matter with him, but he appears to have thought that a complete change was necessary to restore him to complete health-this is evident by his going to Liverpool to seek a post on board ship, and see what a voyage would do. He was successful; and after some preliminaries, set sail for Australia, in the Carrier Dove, with the intention of returning by the next boat available. He arrived safely at his destination, Melbourne, the voyage occupying seventy-seven days. Whilst waiting at the wharf to keep an appointment, he went over a ship he saw lying there, and in coming off on to the Pier, the ladder slipped and he fell into the water, breaking his thigh in the fall. He was rescued and carried off to the Melbourne Hospital, where he lay unconscious for four days.

He apparently recovered from this, for he wrote a long letter home relating his experiences in glowing terms of admiration at his treatment at the hospital, but particularly regretting his illluck in having missed the boat on which he could have obtained a post for his homeward journey. He left the hospital, but shortly afterwards caught a chill and elected to go back there, when rapid consumption set in, and before news of his

illness reached home, he died on the 6th of June 1858, at the early age of thirty-four.

Thus the young wife (who now moved to Chester), was left a widow with three children, of whom the eldest was but ten years of age. At this crisis there came to her rescue her brother, John Churton, who practically took charge of the boys' education, and acted towards them in every way as if they were his own sons.

John Churton, who with his wife lived at Rhyl, seems to have been a man of a high type of character, generous, kind, scrupulously fair and just, but rather strict, and perhaps a little puritanical. He was a man of considerable means, having a large connection as Estate Agent: he was also a Justice of the Peace and Chairman for many years of the Rhyl Commissioners, being eventually made High Sheriff of Flintshire. He had married a Miss Potts of Birmingham, aunt of Alexander Potts, afterwards the first head master of Fettes College, Edinburgh. They were both much attached to the boys, Churton becoming his uncle's special favourite.

The two older boys were first sent to the King's School, Chester, for a short time, and afterwards to a school at Ellesmere-Ellesmere Vicaragewhere they remained till the middle of 1863.

It was about this time that his intense love

-1872 YOUTHFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS 9

of poetry and of the classics manifested itself. And not only did he greedily read and learn poetry, but also tried his hand at composing it. He says in a letter to his mother: "I have been writing a great deal of poetry; two pieces are going to be published, and one is published in The Hereford Times." But he soon gave up composing, whether from want of time, or because the Muse didn't move him, or because he became too fastidious with his work, it is impossible to say-probably for all three reasons. Some of it was submitted to Dr Potts, who praised it very highly in a long letter of appreciation and advice.

When you ask me for a criticism on your poem, I am tempted to send you a eulogy instead, from my sympathy with your tastes and my surprise at the merit of the verses, when I think of your age but some remarks occur to me at once and some advice. . Read and think more, write less-store your mind, and train your reasoning. You will find in the wildest poems of great writers, always logical reasoning. There is always consecutive thought. Poetry like prose has its logic, tho' its premises are often wild and untrue, the working out of them is always consistent, consecutive, and logical. . . . Then follow Virgil's example and put a couple of hundred lines aside to cut them down rigorously afterwards to twenty. A good poet like Time must devour his own children. The manuscripts of Byron, or even of Scott (who was far too easily satisfied), will soon show you this.

It would be good practice for you to translate Virgil into verse, or any other good poet whom you may be studying. To really examine why his verse is so good-would be even better than that.

In order, however, to fit yourself for any real literary work, study, work, read-and that your mind may be healthy and vigorous, play. Take part in the exercises which you will find at the school. It is your duty, and your duty well discharged is worth all the distinction in the world. If you are not strong enough for cricket, take recreation and fresh air in some other way. Only do it and try always to remain simple-minded, affectionate, and pure in taste, as I believe you are now, and you will not want people to sympathise with you and aid you in your favourite studies when they can.

But this was not his only accomplishment. In a letter to his mother he writes :

Do you know what the boys have done for me? You know I tell a tale called " Jock," it being the hairbreadth 'scapes, wonderful adventures of a man of that name and his companions. I have kept on telling this tale for three years, and (you must not think I am boasting) they like it so much that they would do anything to hear it. "Churton's going to tell 'Jock stops their games, they all run in and in less than one minute they are in their places. It is amusing to see their faces. I can make them go as pale as a sheet, make them almost shout and think they are fighting, and make them roar with laughter, and once nearly made them all cry.

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WISH TO ENTER CHURCH

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So they have been so kind as to each give some money and they have collected altogether 6s. 6d. At first I would not take it off them, but they all would not have it back, although I persuaded them; so I am going to get the following cheap editions of these works: Ovid's "Metamorphoses," Campbell's "Poetical Works" and Waller's Works, and the Latin poet "Catullus." We are going to send to London for them to-day, and they are going to write their names in.

Towards the end of 1862 the head master, Mr J. D. Day, wrote a long letter to Mrs Collins ; he writes:

I have had a long conversation and trial of your son's special qualities. I think he dislikes and is unfitted for the duties of a clerk in an office where accounts would be his work. His mind is, as you say, quite set on literary pursuits, and I find that he is decidedly clever in them and has already made by his own extra attention to them, very good and intelligent progress.

He says he is very anxious to become a clergyI have said all in my power to combat this idea for the sake of testing him, but he comes back to the same conclusion.

Mr Day goes on to say that though he would be sorry to lose him it would be better for him to be sent to some school where more classics would be taught, and specially recommends Rossall or the