HIS EARLY LIFK. 283 



tion of prizes excites, we may remind some, in order that 

 they may not abandon themselves to dreams which they 

 will not realize, and others, in order to fortify thera 

 against discouragement, that Picus de Mirandola, the 

 phoenix of learners of all ages and countries, became in 

 mature age an insignificant writer ; that Newton — that 

 powerful intellect of whom Voltaire, in some well known 

 lines, asks the angels whether they are not jealous, — the 

 great Newton, we observe, made but indifferent progress 

 in the classes of his school ; that study had for him no 

 attractions ; that the first time he felt the wish to labour 

 it was merely to take the place of a turbulent school- 

 fellow, who, by reason of his rank in the school was 

 seated on a form above him and annoyed him by kicks ; 

 that at the age of twenty-two he was a candidate for a 

 fellowship at Cambridge, and was beaten by one Robert 

 Uvedale, whose name but for this circumstance, would 

 have remained to this day perfectly unknown ; that 

 Fontenelle, lastly, was more ingenious than exact when 

 he applied to Newton the words of Lucan, " It is not 

 given to men to see the Nile feeble and at its source." 



At the age of six years, Young entered under a teacher 

 at Bristol,* whose mediocrity was a fortunate circum- 

 stance for him. This, Gentlemen, is no paradox ; the 

 pupil, not being able to accommodate himself to the slow 

 and limited steps which his master took, became his own 

 instructor. It is thus that those brilliant qualities de- 

 veloped themselves which too much aid would certainly 

 have enervated. 



* The master, whose name was King, at first kept school at Sta- 

 pleton, and thence removed to Townend, both near Bristol. Young's 

 acquaintance with the surveyor commenced after he quitted that 

 school. See Peacock's Life, p. 5. — Translator. 



