LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. 



had put up between two fine old oaks in a distant part of Walton 

 Park. He said he especially wished them to come that day, which 

 was the 3d of June. He rowed his sisters-in-law in his boat to the 

 far end of the lake which surrounds Walton Hall, and when they 

 arrived at the spot, he told them he intended to be buried there, 

 and put his arms round the cross. " Squire," said Miss Edmonstone 

 in Italian, for there was a man at work within hearing, " it is your 

 birthday." He smiled, and bowed assent. Thus it came to be 

 known that he was born on the 3d of June. 



Waterton's father was fond of out door natural history and of field- 

 sports. He was also a good scholar, and though prevented by the 

 penal laws against Roman Catholics from holding even the office ot 

 a magistrate, he had a high position among the gentlemen of his 

 county. Mrs Waterton, according to the testimony of those who 

 knew her, was a lady of more than ordinary dignity and judgment. 

 She early and successfully taught her children high principles and 

 scrupulous conduct. They retained, throughout their lives, a loving 

 recollection of how much they were indebted to her ; and to the end 

 of his days her eldest son would speak of her and her deeds with 

 affectionate reverence. Waterton has related his descent in "Some 

 Account of the Writer of the following Essays, by Himself : " 



" I think I have seen in a book, but I forget which just now, that, 

 when we read a work, we generally have a wish to see the author's 

 portrait, or, at least, to know something of him.* Under this im- 

 pression, I conceive that a short account of myself will not be wholly 

 uninteresting to the reader, who, it is to be hoped, will acquit me of 

 egotism, as I declare, in all truth, that I write these Memoirs with 

 no other object in view than that of amusing him. 



" I was born at Walton Hall, near Wakefield, in the county of 

 York, some five-and-fifty years ago. This tells me that I am no 

 chicken ; but, were I asked how I feel with regard to the approaches 



* The book which Waterton had forgotten was "The Spectator," No. I. : 

 "I have observed that a reader seldom peruses a book with pleasure till he 

 knows whether the writer of it be a black or a fair man, of a mild or choleric 

 disposition, married or a bachelor, with other particulars of the like nature, that 

 conduce very much to the right understanding of an author." [D.] 



