428 SIR HARRY DIMSDALE, MAYOR OF GARRATT. 
been really wonders. Yet they must ever be looked upon as very 
extraordinary productions of a boy, and will perpetuate the name of 
Chatterton among those of the most remarkable examples of prema- 
ture genius. 
Of his avowed writings, a miscellaneous volume was published in 
1778, followed by a supplement in 1786. These, though upon the 
whole inferior to his Rowley, display the same versatility and quick- 
ness of parts, and are not without some passages of striking merit. 
It has been concluded by many of the warm admirers of Chatter- 
ton, that had he been born under happier auspices, and lived to the 
maturity of his faculties, he would have risen to the very first rank of 
English poetry. But this may be a mistaken opinion. The history 
of literature affords many instances of the promise of youth remain- 
ing unfulfilled in mature years; and it is not unlikely that his imagi- 
nation would early have exhausted itself, without being succeeded by 
any other quality of the mind in an equal measure. — His disposition 
appears likely to have been too volatile to have allowed him steadily 
to pursue perfection in any one walk. — The uncommon talents and 
melancholy fate of Chatterton have caused many tributes to be paid 
to his memory, some of them in strains highly animated and pathe- 
tic. That in these poetical commemorations his merit should have 
been exaggerated, his faults extenuated, and his catastrophe represented 
rather as a stain upon his countrymen than himself, is perhaps excu- 
sable ; but a deviation from truth in the sober narration of a biogra- 
pher admits of no apology. 
Sir Harry Dimsdale, May'or of Garratt. 
The origin of electing a mayor of Garrat is involved in some ob- 
scurity ; but it is generally believed to have taken its rise from a frolic 
which was practised towards the close of the seventeenth century, 
when some watermen, during an election, determined on passing a 
merry day at Garratt, a district in the parish of Wandsworth in Sur- 
rey, took into their heads to choose one of their company representa- 
tive of that place. Ever since, at a general election, the custom has 
been kept up, — when a cripple or an idiot is usually elected mayor. 
A great crowd generally attend on these occasions, and there is a 
sort of fair on the day of election. On one occasion. Sir Harry Dims- 
dale, as he was called, was elected to the office. 
Sir Harry, who was a complete idiot, was born in Shug-lane, Hay- 
market, in the year 1758. Of his early pursuits little is known ; but 
we find him, in 1788, receiving parochial relief from St. Martin’s pa- 
rish : his trade at that time was vending ** bobbins, thread, and stay- 
laces, for the ladies he next commenced muffin dealer, by which he 
made himself very conspicuous about the streets of London. His 
harmless behaviour gained him many customers, and life rolled on 
gaily and smoothly, till ambition fired his soul, and he aspired to the 
honour of representing the borough of Garrat, on the death of that 
celebrated character Sir Jeffrey Dunstan ; and in which he was suc- 
cessful. Sir Harry was elected to fill the important station of Mayor 
pf Garratt, during four parliaments ; though not without experiencing 
violent opposition in the persons of Squire Jobson the bill-sticker, 
