20 
MEMOIR OF 
ments of a common education, we must be surprised 
at the variety of acquirements which he afterwards 
displayed, or rather, perhaps, at the industry by 
which tliey 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 by a free intercourse, and which a knowledge of 
their language could only give. 
This very close application to business and study, 
however, excited symptoms of disease in a frame and 
constitution never very robust, and alarmed his 
friends for his health. Relaxation was recommend- 
ed, and he employed a short leave of absence, by 
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 and studi- 
