LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. XXlll 



pressed great satisfaction, a*ked me some ques- 

 tions about the construction of maps, and told me 

 that if I would go and live at his house, he would 

 order his butler, Alexander Cantley, to give me a 

 great deal of instruction. Finding that this Cant- 

 ley was the man whom I had seen painting the 

 sun-dial, and of whom I had already conceived a 

 very high opinion, I told 'Squire Grant, that I 

 should rejoice to be at his house as soon as the 

 time was expired for which I was engaged with 

 my present master. He very politely offered to 

 put one in my place ; but this I declined. 



When the term of my servitude was out, T left 

 my good master, and went to the gentleman's 

 house, where I quickly found myself with a most 

 humane good family. Mr. Cantley the butler soon 

 became my friend, and continued so till his death. 

 He was the most extraordinary man that ever I 

 was acquainted with, or perhaps ever shall see ; 

 for he was a complete master of arithmetic, a good 

 mathematician, a master of music on every known 

 instrument except the harp, understood Latin, 

 French, and Greek, let blood extremely well, and 

 could even prescribe as a physician upon any ur- 

 gent occasion. He was what is generally called 

 self-taught; but, T think, he might with much 

 greater propriety have been termed GOD AL- 

 MIGHTY'S scholar. 



He immediately began to teach me decimal 

 arithmetic, and algebra; for I had already learned 

 vulgar arithmetic, at my leisure hours, from books. 



