f?0 
MKMr*m OF 
uients of a fonniiicm edurfition, we must be surpiisei! 
tkt (lie variety of aeqniretnenu whieh lie afterwards 
tUsplayeil, or rather, perhaps, at (he induHtry hy 
vfiith ihey were attained. During his seilentary 
oeeajmtion a« a clerk, he employed liis leisure m at- 
tending to several hranchea of liieratiire, anil he ob' 
tflitied a tderable kiiou'le<!fre of iTench, which a re- 
tentive memory enaWeil him (o retain, and after- 
wards lo use wiih much advantage, in his various 
duties of diplomacy. His power of acquiring lan- 
guages was trreat, and iu his after eogagements gave 
him advania^jes and Infiuence overthe native powers 
of the Kast, which could not have been obtained un- 
Jess by a fi ee interconrHe, and which a knowSedge of 
their languatre caukl only give. 
This very close apphcation (o hnsiness and study, 
however, excited symptoms of disease in a frame and 
constitution never very rohiist, and slarmed liis 
friendn for his health. Helaxaiion was recommend- 
ed, and he employed a (tbort leave of alwence, by 
making a pede^^trian excunsimi through Wales, which, 
while it gave him renewed strength, gave him also 
information of (he mining districts, which waa after- 
wards of advantage to bis researches in Java. 
It would scarcely have been expected that a young 
man, placed in so apparently friendless a situation, 
should have made to lumseh' patrons. A friend had, 
however, orarked htm ; and upor\ the occurrence of a 
vacancy in the establishment of the East India^House, 
Hhe appointment was given to the young and studi- 
