i CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 3 



surrounded by gardens arranged in the old English 

 style and enclosed on either side by ample woods. 

 To this pleasant residence Mr. Roscoe retired to 

 prosecute his literary and botanical pursuits ; and here 

 his family enjoyed the delights of a country home for 

 many years, with all the refinements and interests 

 attaching to their father's high position. This idyllic 

 state, however, did not last his lifetime, for in 1816 by 

 the failure in that year of the Liverpool bank in 

 which he was a partner, came the loss of all his 

 fortune and the consequent impoverishment of his 

 family. 



His valuable collection of oil paintings was bought 

 by his friends and presented to the Liverpool Royal 

 Institution, which he had founded. A sitting statue 

 of him by Chantrey was also placed, after his death, 

 in the same building. A few years ago the Institution 

 ceased to exist, the pictures were handed over to the 

 Liverpool Municipality, and they now occupy a special 

 room in the magnificent Walker Gallery. The statue, 

 too, was presented to the city of Liverpool, and a site 

 was found for it in the St. George's Hall. But on 

 raising the heavy statue into position in the hall the 

 tackle broke, and the statue fell and was seriously 

 damaged. Fortunately, however, it was found possible 

 to repair the broken parts, and there the statue now 

 occupies a place of honour. 



My grandfather had always been an ardent Liberal. 

 At a meeting which took place in Liverpool on the 

 1 4th July, 1790, to celebrate the taking of the Bastille, 

 he produced a song, well known at the time, of which 

 the first verse ran : 



Unfold, Father Time ! thy long records unfold, 

 Of noble achievements accomplished of old, 

 When men, by the standard of Liberty led, 

 Undauntedly conquer'd or cheerfully bled. 



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