HISTORY OF THE ATOMIC THEORY. 7 



place a teacher of ability could not be found. There are other 

 parts of Cumberland, the parish of Martindale for example, 

 where the science of mathematics was well taught in the days of 

 our grandfathers, but where both scholars and instruction in the 

 most elementary English books could with difficulty be had 

 within these three years. Dalton must certainly have sur- 

 passed the other scholars when he began to teach at the age of 

 twelve. The school was kept in the Friends' Meeting House, 

 at Eaglesfield, still a school-room.* We are not told if he 

 succeeded his teacher in this, or where Mr. Fletcher after- 

 wards lived. We may picture to ourselves the struggles of 

 the determined boy, working hard at his father's farm in the 

 summer time, as we are informed he did, and helping also 

 to repair the old farm house, but working with still more 

 determination in winter which afforded him the chief oppor- 

 tunities for study, and when the boys from the various farms 

 congregated to the school, their parents not being able to 

 spare them from their work during the busy season of the 

 year. We can picture the indomitable youth, as an old 

 pupil of his, John Robinson, now living at Eaglesfield, 

 has pictured him, struggling for that authority needed to 

 maintain order, but feeling that there was no struggle needed 

 to shew the superiority of his information. Being as old or 

 older than himself they would not be silenced or commanded, 

 and determined as himself they challenged him into the 

 surrounding grave-yard to fight. It is not said whether he 

 accepted the challenge, but he sometimes took the more 

 dignified mode of locking-up the more refractory, repeating 

 in the school-room that they might learn their tasks whilst 

 he went to his dinner. For this, however, he waS sometimes 

 at least the greatest sufferer, as they broke the windows in 

 revenge.f 



• Pens and ink were announced as to be sold within. 

 I From Mr. Dickinson's Letter. 



