152 JOHN C. FKEMONT. 



distinguished attorney of Charleston. But soon his 

 marked displays of ability and of progress induced 

 his benefactor to place him under the tuition of a 

 professional instructor, Dr. Robertson, who at that 

 time conducted a select school in the capital of the 

 State. Under this tutor Fremont's progress was 

 very remarkable, and has been commemorated by a 

 labored panegyric from the pen of his venerable in- 

 structor. His subsequent connection with Charleston 

 College is said to have been suspended by his ardent 

 attachment to a young lady of West Indian birth ; 

 nor could either encouragements or threats dissolve 

 the potent spell which her transcendent beauty 

 had cast upon him. His neglect of his studies at 

 length procured his expulsion from the institution, 

 although at a subsequent period that stigma was 

 removed. 



This misfortune produced no permanent injury to 

 his prospects. With the elastic power which youth 

 and genius alone possess, Fremont soon began to 

 appreciate the importance of devoting his energies 

 to some settled plan of life. He commenced to 

 teach mathematics to a few youths of his acquaint- 

 ance, and he also took charge of a regular evening 

 school. In 1833, an opportunity occurred in which 

 he could employ his talents and attainments in a 

 higher and more extended sphere. The sloop-of- 



