343 



ESSEX WORTHIES, IV. 

 GEORGE EDWARDS, THE STRATFORD NATURALIST. 



By JOHN AVERY. 



IRead Febniaty 22nd, 1902.] 



With Plate XIII. 



GEORGE EDWARDS, the son of George and Mary 

 Edwards, was born at Stratford, in Essex, and baptised 

 in West Ham Church on ytli of April, 1693. He passed some 

 of his early years under the tuition of a clergyman named 

 Hewitt, who was then master of a public school at Leytonstone. 

 After leaving the school he was placed with another clergy- 

 man of the Established Church at Brentwood, and being 

 designed by his parents for business, was apprenticed to a 

 tradesman in Fenchurch Street, London. His master, who was 

 strictly religious and distinguished for classical scholarship, 

 treated him with remarkable kindness and consideration. About 

 the middle of the term of his apprenticeship there occurred the 

 death of a certain Dr. Nicholas, an eminent savant related 

 to Edwards' master. The doctor's extensive library was 

 removed from Covent Garden to the apartments of the young 

 naturalist, who availed himself fully of this unique opportunity, 

 and passed all the leisure of the day and, not unfrequently, a 

 considerable part of the night in turning over tiiis collection of 

 works on natural history, fine arts, and antiquities. 



The path to wealth through commerce ceased to attract him 

 the shop and the exchange had lost all their delights ; and, on 

 the expiration of the term of his indentures, he determined to 

 travel abroad to improve his taste and enlarge his mind. 



In 1 716, having no intention of entering business, he visited 

 most of the principal towns in Holland, being absent about a 

 month. On his return he remained two years in London and 

 its neighbourhood, and then sailed for Norway, at the invitation 

 of a gentleman who was disposed to be his friend, and whose 

 nephew was master of the vessel in which he embarked. 



Nothing material occurred on the voyage, and they soon 

 arrived at the destined port. 



A country diversified with rocks of stupendous magnitude, 

 and trees of unfading verdure, where some of the natives had 

 scarce experienced the arts of civilisation, could not tail to afford 

 novelty, if it did not impart satisfaction to an Englishman. The 



