266 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
I have not been able to ascertain when the Fronts first settled in 
Plymouth. The artist's father, as "I have been given to understand, 
formerly in affluent circumstances, was eventually engaged in some 
way of trade — in an extensive clothing establishment of the town. 
He was a man of much individuality and power of mind, as one 
may judge from a fine portrait of him by Brockedon in the posses- 
sion of the family; but he possessed little of his son's facial 
delicacy and refinement, and was a much more muscular and 
powerfully-built man. He (Prout, sen.) married Miss Cater, the 
daughter of a large shipbuilder and merchant of the town, at 
whose house the celebrated and eccentric George Whitefield was 
entertained when on his visits, which were frequent, to Plymouth. 
Samuel Prout was born September 17th, 1783. From very early 
childhood his father intended him for business ; " but," says 
Mr. Buskin, in an article which appeared in the Art Journal about 
three years before the artist's death, " although the delicate health 
of the child might have appeared likely to induce a languid 
acquiescence in his parent's wish, the love of drawing occupied 
every leisure hour, and at last trespassed upon every other occupa- 
tion. Keproofs were affectionately repeated, and every effort made 
to dissuade the boy from what was considered an idle amusement, 
but it was soon discovered that opposition was unavailing, and the 
attachment too strong to be checked. It might perhaps have been 
otherwise but for some rays of encouragement received from the 
observant kindness of his first schoolmaster. To watch the direc- 
tion of the little hand when it wandered from its task, to draw the 
culprit to him with a smile instead of a reproof, to set him on the 
high stool beside his desk and stimulate him by the loan of his 
own pen to a more patient and elaborate study of the child's usual 
subject — his favourite cat — was a modification of preceptorial care 
as easy as it was wise ; but it perhaps had more influence on the 
mind and after-life of the boy than all the rest of his education 
together." 
" Such happy though rare interludes in school hours, and 
occasional attempts at home, usually from the carts and horses which 
stopped at a public-house opposite, began the studentship of the 
young artist before he quitted his pinafore. An unhappy accident 
which happened about the same time, and which farther enfeebled 
his health, rendered it still less advisable to interfere with his 
beloved occupation." " We have heard," adds Mr. Euskin, who 
