WILLIAM Hamilton, the young hero of this true history, was eight years of age when he removed to his uncle doctor Wentbridge’s school, in the neighbourhood of Weatherby. That gentleman began his seminary with a considerable prospect of success, and among a good number of pupils had several boys of nearly his nephew’s standing. William’s genius, therefore, both quick and strong, was stimulated by emulation. His literary career gave his uncle very thorough satisfaction. Before he reached his eleventh year, he was advanced to Cæsar and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and at the head of a class of promising scholars in the various school exercises. Though in his disposition frank, liberal, and bold, and very popular among his schoolfellows, yet he continued passionate; his anger being vented in violence where prowess could operate, but where valour was inapplicable, converging itself into poignant and severe sarcasm; insomuch that his uncle told the old vicar, William would turn out a very clever fellow whatsoever profession he embraced, but if he became literary would most probably be a satirist. The venerable clergyman was pleased with the testimony borne by his son to his grandson’s ability, but declared his sincere wish that the violence of his passions might be restrained, and his sarcastic efforts might be repressed. Though Dr. Wentbridge was no less desirous of confining his nephew’s satirical effusion within the limits of moderation, he could not always succeed. There was at the school an usher of acute and vigorous talents, but malignant in his disposition, sour and sneering in his manners, selfish and avaricious in his conduct, extremely ugly and coarse in his appearance. It was customary at the return to school after the holidays for the scholars to make a present to this person, and their treatment by him was generally found indulgent or rigorous, according to the amount of the donation. Dr. Wentbridge had not thought it necessary, as he paid his teacher sufficiently himself, to make any addition on account of his nephew. The covetous pedant was displeased at this omission, and vented his resentment in rigour and insult to the boy as far as he durst, without offending the master. William had once or twice complained of the usher’s behaviour, but as Dr. Wentbridge well knew the plaintiff’s irritability, and highly valued the defendant on account of his preceptorial qualifications, he, on rather a summary inquiry, gave judgment in the defendant’s favour.--The usher, encouraged by these acquittals, had persisted in persecuting young Hamilton. One day the boy, now turned of twelve, having finished an exercise, in which he had translated into English verse the storm in the first Æneid, had betaken himself to Tom Jones, which he was reading at his leisure hours with a devouring eagerness. He had before pointed out parson Thwackum to his schoolfellows, as the representative of Mr. Scourge, and the usher, was not without an intimation of William’s