HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [193 



Cowper, that "man's coltish disposition needs the thong." Even 

 when a boy his memory was uncommonly tenacious, and on the 

 advantages of this powerful faculty he prided himself through life. 

 The weakness of his sight prevented him from joining in the sports 

 of his school-fellows, for which he was naturally well qualified by 

 personal strength and courage ; and he spent his hours of recreation 

 and leisure in rambles in the numerous public walks adjacent to the 

 city, or in reading old romances. 



In his fifteenth year, Johnson was indulged with a visit to his 

 mother's brother, Dr. Ford; he continued in Warwickshire beyond 

 the usual time allowed for the vacation, and on his return to 

 school was refused admission by Mr. Hunter, who was offended at 

 his pupil for having addressed some complimentary verses to his 

 niece, Lucy Porter. 



Johnson was afterwards sent to the grammar-school in Stour- 

 bridge, where he remained a year, during which he wrote several 

 poems, some of which were printed in the Gentleman's Magazine, 

 when he became a contributor to that periodical miscellany. On 

 his return to Lichfield, he continued in his father's house without 

 any determination respecting his future life. It has been asserted 

 indeed, but without sufficient authority, that he was for some time 

 employed in learning the trade of a bookbinder. The strong 

 bias, however, of the youth's mind for classical attainments, doubt- 

 less induced his father to send him to the University of Oxford, 

 and in his nineteenth year he was entered of Pembroke College.* 

 He continued about three years at College, where his vigorous 

 intellect, under the tuition of Dr. Adams, imbibed that knowledge 

 at the fountain-head, with the diversity and excellence of which he 

 afterwards delighted and instructed his countrymen. While at 

 College he was mostly in a state of seclusion, occasioned in a great 

 degree by his indigence, and to this circumstance may possibly be 

 attributed that successful application to study, and the consequent 

 acquisition of classic lore, which enabled him to outshine his con- 

 temporaries. It has been ascertained indeed, that Johnson was 

 compelled by a want of pecuniary aid to quit College without a de- 



* His apartment in Pembroke College was upon the second floor over the 

 gateway. One day, when he was sitting in it quite alone, Dr. Ponting, then 

 Head of the College, overheard him uttering this soliloquy in his strong em- 

 phatic voice. " Well, I have a mind to see what is done in other places of 

 learning. I'll go and visit the Universities abroad. I'll go to France and 

 Italy; I'll go to Padua- -, and I'll mind my business. For an Athe- 

 nian blockhead is the worst of all blockheads." 



