Ixxii INTRODUCTION. 
arithmetic, was wrenched from him with so much grudg- 
ing, and in a manner so unkind, as to be then severely felt, 
and never afterwards forgotten. 
At the age of fourteen, this provident relation first put 
him out as an apprentice, to learn “ the art and mystery 
of shoemaking ;” a line of life which, from its peculiar 
monotony of stillness, or in spite of it, seems by no means 
unfriendly, as experience has shewn, to the progress of in- 
tellectual acquirement. ‘I'he strength of mind for which 
young Cranch had been distinguished from his childhood 
was now constantly and obviously struggling with the ad- 
verse circumstances of his situation; but every moment, 
which could be stolen from his daily labour, was devoted 
to the few books which he had found means to collect. 
The study of natural history was that in which he mostly 
delighted ; and, even at this early period of his life, he 
was able to draw up correct and classical descriptions of 
all the insects he could procure in the neighbourhood of 
Kingsbridge. Without other assistance than books, he 
had acquired a sufficient knowledge of Latin and French, 
to enable him to understand thoroughly those languages, 
when made use of by zoological writers, and to employ 
them himself, in describing objects of natural history. He 
had acquired also a general knowledge of astronomy. 
But, while thus eagerly endeavouring to grasp at science, 
every thing tended to depress, and nothing to encourage 
him. However, he had the fortitude to persevere ; and 
continued, in spite of every obstacle, silently and sedu- 
lously, unnoticed and unknown, to nourish his ruling pas- 
sion, the love of knowledge. 
At the expiration of his apprenticeship, he went up to 
