20 
MEMOIR OP 
raents of a common education, we must he surprised 
at the variety of acquirements which lie afterwards 
displayed, or rather, perhaps, at the industry hy 
which they were attained. During his sedentary 
occupation as a clerk, he employed his leisure in at- 
tending to several branches of literature, and he ob- 
tained a tolerable knowledge of French, which a re- 
tentive memory enabled him to retain, and after- 
wards to use with much advantage, in his various 
duties of diplomacy- His power of acquiring lan- 
guages was great, and in his after engagements gave 
him advantages and influence over the native powers 
of the East, which could not have been obtained un- 
less hy a free intercourse, and which a knowledge of 
their language could only give. 
Tins very close application to business and study, 
however, excited symptoms of disease in a frame and 
constitution never very robust, and alarmed Ids 
triends for his health. Relaxation was recommend- 
ed, ami he employed a short leave of absence, hy 
making a pedestrian excursion through Wales, which, 
while it gave him renewed strength, gave him also 
information of the mining districts, which was after- 
wards of advantage to his researches in Java. 
It would scarcely have been expected that a young 
man, placed in so apparently friendless a situation, 
should have made to himself patrons. A friend had, 
however, marked him and upon the occurrence of a 
vacancy in the establishment of the East India House, 
the appointment was given to the young atid studi- 
