478 
of its young, about 4000 infeéts or ca-_ 
terpillars are devoted for their food. =» 
I am, as an individual, fo well fatis-: 
fied with the vifits-of the feathered tribe 
on my fmal! premiies in the vicinity of 
Memoirs of Mr. Bage. 
(Jan. Ty 
time he was completely mafter of the 
manual-exercife, and I faw him inftrué- 
ing fome youngmen. He afterwards was 
trained to his father’s bufinefs. 
In about 31751 he married*a young 
London, as not only to difcourage their lady, who poffeffed four accomplifhnients 
defraction, but in fevere weather, of frof which feldom meet in one woman, for- 
or fnow, to {prinkle corn in the walks for tune, beauty, good fenfe, and prudence ; 
their preferyation; and it, might be fug- I might adda fifth, neceflary forthe peace 
gefted, from the numbers and. varie- ofa tamily, good nature. I have reafon 
ties that frequent thefe premifes, thatthey to think he found more happinels in do- 
poflefs fome medium of conveying to each meftic life than is ufually experienced. 
other a fenfe ot the fecurity they enjoy. Having embraced the marriage ftate, he 
Some, indeed, that are rare in thefe parts entered upon a paper-mill at Elford, four 
of England, I frequently meet with. miies from Tamwotth, which he con- 
Without much water I have the king’s+ ducted to the time of his death. 
filher. The diminutive and beautiful Some men’s capacity opens at a late 
golden-headed wren is my denizen; the day, and fome wither foon after the me- 
jay enlivens the trees, and creepers and ridian of life, but Robert Bage’s opened ~ 
wood-peckers climb their trunks, 
Grovelill, J.C. Letrsom. 
December 9, 1801... 
and fhut with his exiftence. His enhiven- 
ing fun fhone with vigour during a long 
period of years. His talents, humanity, 
. ‘ ' honour, and generofity, appeared, through 
: _ the whole of his life, confpicuous to all 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magaxine.. who knew him. I could bring number- 
SIR, . lefs incidents to eftablith every trait of his 
I WAITED, and earneftly wifhed, to fee character: but as this would lead me into 
in your Magazine fome memoirs of the too wide a field, I hall confine myfelf to 
late worthy Mr. Robert Bage. Butnone one or two proofs to each aflertion. The 
appearing after fo urgent a folicitation,; I powers of his mind were amazingly ftrong ; 
think myfelf bound to pay a tribute toa thefe, in the early part of his life have 
departed friend whom, I dearly loved, who already been noted. During my ac- 
ftood one of the firft in my eftcem, whom quaintance with him he learnt mufic, 
I have known perhaps longer than any and the French and Italian languages, 
man living, and with whom I have lived without a. maiter. Being inclined, in 
in the clofelt friendfhip fifty years. 1760, to learn the abftrufe branches of 
This uncommon but excellent man mathematics, he applied to Thomas Han- 
was born Feb. 29, 1728, at Darley, a fon, a celebrated teacher, and {pent a_ 
hamlet in the parifh of St, Alkmond’s, night in Birmingham oncea week for 
Derby, where his father worked a paper- inftru€tion.. As I was intimate with both, 
mill. Though he lived to the age of 73, I fometimes attended, and before the {cho- 
he could not celebrate more than 18 birth- lar had been a month, I could eafily per- 
days. rise ceive, though no adept mylelf, he was 
His mother died foon after his birth, able to teach his majter, nay, even fet 
when hig father removed to Derby, but him faft. Perhaps part of this victory 
kept the mill. He quickly married a fe- might arife from the eafy fluency with 
cond wife, and,-as IT refided in the fame which Mr. Bage delivered himfelf, while 
fireet, and near him, I well remember he the mafter of figures was better formed 
buried her in 1732. He foon procured for thinking than {peaking.. pA 
another, buried her, and.ventured upon a His humanity, will appear from his 
fourth, who furvived him. | treatment of his fervants, and even his 
Robert was put to ‘fchoo!, fo that I horfes, who all loved him, and whom he 
did ‘not perfcétly know him till 1735, kept to old age. ig an 
when he was feven years old. He had ‘ ‘Trade, which is thought to corrupt the 
"made at tnat age fuch a progrefs in let- mind, made no fuch impreffion upon his, 
ters, thathe was the wonder of the neigh- Though he laid no ftrefs upon Revelation,” 
Bourhood; he was then in. the Latin his dealings were ttamped with regtitude; 
tongue. My father often held him up to he remarked to me,- ** Fraud is beneath a 
me for imitation, I being much bigger man.’” He had no other love for monty 
and olcer. I was then but little ac- than fo ufe it, or he might haye left a 
quainted “with him, for he moved in a much larger property than he did. In 
iphere more elevated than I, At this Feb. 31756, he afked me to fpend thg 
, oS deaths 9 Wek _  6¥ening 
Pa ~ 
a a ee 
ee Se a ee 
