CHATTERTON AND HIS WORKS.

1752.

From the Monthly Review.

Chatterton,
Two vols.

The Poetical Works of Thomas
with Notices of his Life, &c.
Cambridge.
THOMAS CHATTERTON, whose precocious
genius and tragical end have rendered him
an object of much interest and speculation,
was born at Bristol on the 20th November,
His ancestry moved in humble life;
for a hundred and fifty years having held
the office of sexton of St. Mary Redcliffe;
his uncle being the last that filled it. His
father appears to have been to some extent
a character; and among sundry pursuits to
his liking, he latterly was master of a free-
school in Pyle-street. He died several
months before his extraordinary son saw
the light; leaving a widow and a little
daughter. The poor woman, of course,
had to struggle for a maintenance, which
she did by keeping a small day-school and
by the needle.

fher expressive letter to Sir Herbert Croft, "very
early discovered a thirst for pre-eminence. I
remember before he was five years old, he would
always preside over his playmates as their mas-
He was dull in
ter, and they his hired servants.
learning, not knowing many letters at four years
old, and always objected to read in a small book.
He learnt the alphabet from an old folio music-
book of my father's, my mother was then tear-
ing up for waste paper: the capitals at the be-
ginning of the verses I assisted in teaching him.
I recollect nothing remarkable till he went into
the school, which was in his eighth year, except-
ing his promising my mother and me a deal of
finery, when he grew up, as a reward of her

care.

melancholy temperament about him:
But there were other symptoms and of a

He grew reserved and thoughtful. He was silent and gloomy for long intervals together, speaking to no one, and appearing angry when noticed or disturbed. He would break out into sudden fits of weeping, for which no reason could be assigned; would shut himself up in some chamber, and suffer no one to approach him, nor allow himself to be enticed from his seclusion. Often he would go the length of absenting himself from home altogether, for the space, sometimes, of many hours; and his sister remembered his being most severely chastised ever, shed one tear, but merely said "it was for a long absence; at which he did not, howhard indeed to be whipped for reading."

Of Chatterton's earliest years there appears to be no extraordinary record, unless we except his supposed dulness. At five he was put to the school of which his father had been master; but was shortly sent back to his mother, on account of his incapacity; and it was some time before Not unfrequently a search was instituted. she could teach him the alphabet. At length His mother's house was close to the fine struche "fell in love," to use her precise words, ture of St. Mary Redcliffe, and they well knew with the illuminated letters of an old French that the boy's favorite haunts were the aisles musical manuscript. His father had been a would find the truant, seated generally by the and towers of that noble pile. And there they member of the cathedral choir, and there- tomb of Canynge, or lodged in one of the towfore may be supposed musically inclined, ers, reading sometimes, or-what if thus early just as he was magically. Young Chatter-imagining Rowley? Stealing away in this manton's attention to the illuminated manu-ner, he would constantly awaken the solicitude of script was coeval with his beginning to his friends, to whom his little eccentricities were learn his letters; and what is hardly less already the source of much uneasiness. remarkable, and perhaps was indicative of his future bent, his reading made its progress from an old black-letter Bible. Nor did this take place without a development of literary taste and ardor.

"At eight years of age," says a neighbor who was much in the house, " he was so eager for books, that he read from the moment he waked, which was early, until he went to bed, if they would let him." And the dreams of ambition were already commenced. A manufacturer promised to make the children a present of some earthen-ware-a cup or plaything that might gratify a child: he asked the boy what device should be inscribed on his. "Paint me," replied the future creator of Rowley, "paint me an angel with wings and a trumpet, to trumpet my name over the world." This anecdote rests upon credible authority, that of his sister.

The sister also thus expresses herself:

When eight years old, Chatterton was admitted into a charity-school, where the scholars were boarded and clothed, as well as instructed in reading English, writing, and casting accounts. But the rules of the foundation, and, no doubt, its charitable character, did not agree with the spirit of the young genius; and he declared that he here could not learn so much as he did at home, "for he had not books enough." Still, he remained for several years, and was noted for his arithmetical talent. The small amount of pocket-money which was allowed him by his mother, he spent at the circulating library; reading, it would appear, and as was natural for one so greedy and yet undirected, every thing that came to hand, but displaying a passion for antiquities, especially heraldry. As regarded

"My brother," writes the same relation, in his social disposition, he is said to have

made few acquaintances among his school-1. It is not of course certainly known which fellows, and only with those of a thoughtful of the Rowley pieces was first fabricated; disposition. although the probability is that in the case of an author who was so fertile, ingenious, and industrious as the young poet of Bris.

It is not clearly ascertained when he first began to write verses; though undoubtedly it was while but a-boy:..It is remarkable, tol, they were composed as occasion rehowever, that when of an age at which something lightsame, or that might attract immediate attention, would be likely to occupy a boy, Thomas was eagerly engaged in some business, mysterious to all about him; the inference being now that he was preparing for the Rowley poems.

In the house in which Mrs. Chatterton resided -a poor back tenement, dismally situated in a houses that fronted the street-there was a small garret which had been used as a lumber-room. Of this apartment Chatterton possessed himself: he kept the key, and suffered no one, if he could help it, to have access to it. In it were deposited all his papers and parchments, and a variety of other

kind of court, behind a row of somewhat better

articles, for which his relations found no other terms than "rubbish" and "litter."

From twelve to seven, each Saturday, he was always at home, returning punctually a few minutes after the clock had struck, to his little room and shut himself up. In this room he always had by him a great piece of ochre in a brown pan, pounce-bags full of charcoal-dust, which he had from a Miss Sanger, a neighbor; also a bottle of black-lead powder, which they once took to clean the stove with, and made him very angry. Every | holiday almost he passed at home; and often, having been denied the key when he wanted it (because they thought he hurt his health and made himself dirty), he would come to Mrs. Edkins, and kiss her cheek, and coax her to get it for him, using the most persuasive expressions to effect his end; so that this eagerness of his to be in this room so much alone, the apparatus, the parchments (for he was not then indentured to Mr. Lambert), both plain as well as written on, and the begrimed figure he always presented when he came down at tea. time, his face exhibiting many stains of black and yellow-all these circumstances began to alarm them; and when she could get into his room, she would be very inquisitive, and peep about at every thing. Once he put his foot on a parchment, on the floor, to prevent her from taking it up; saying, "You are too curious and clear-sighted-I wish you would bide out of the room: it is my room.' To this she answered by telling him it was only a general lumber room, and that she wanted some parchment to make thread-papers of: but he was offended, and would not permit her to touch any of them, not even those that were not written on; but at last, with a voice of entreaty, said, "Pray don't touch any thing here," and seemed very anxious to get her away: and this increased her fears lest he should be doing something improper, knowing his want of money and ambition to appear like others. At last they got a strange idea that these colors were to color himself; and that, perhaps, he would join some gipsies, one day or other, as he seemed so discontented with his station in life, and unhappy.

quired or tempted. The production that was earliest in the field was a genealogical account, called the Burgum Pedigree, of the family of a pewterer in Bristol, of the name of Burgum, a vain body and ready to be duped. For this Chatterton received five shillings; a reward which must have fed his vanity, and served to induce him to make another experiment, and which might be regarded as a supplement to the heraldic tree. In this he flattered the pewterer not only with a descent from noble families, but an alliance with a poet; and to complete the deception and crown the effort, he produced "The Romaunte of the Cnyghte" as writen by John de Bergham.

This poem Chatterton had transcribed in all its genuine orthography; and, the better to elucidate its beauties, as Mr. Burgum was unskilled in Gothic lore, he accompanied it with a modernized version, by himself. "To give you," says he to the pewterer, "an idea of the poetry of the age, take the following piece, wrote by him (John de Bergham), about 1320." This was not all; he adds a list of some of the works of which this said ancestor was the author. "This John was one of the greatest ornaments of the age in which he lived. He wrote several books, and translated some of the Iliad, under the title Romance of Troy; which possibly may be the book alluded to in the following French memoire: Un Lyvre ke parle de quartee principal gestes, et de Charles; the romaunce Titus et Vespasian, le romaunce de Agyres; le romaunce de Marchaunce, le romaunce de Edmund et Agoland, le Riband par Monsieur Iscannus, le romaunce de Tibbot de Arable, le romaunce de Troys,' &c." He brought likewise the De Bergham arms "laboriously painted" on parchment. In this second portion of the pedigree, the "account" is carried down to the reign of Charles the Second; and there, as the pewterer was not unlikely to know something of his ancestry-it being only removed by a period of a hundred years-Chatterton very wisely stopped.

At the age of fourteen, Thomas was articled, as an apprentice, to Mr. John Lambert, an attorney at Bristol. Here he was treated as a clerk in a very humble capacity. The trustees of the charity school paid the apprentice fee. These were circumstances which are understood to have irritated the morbidly proud temperament of the lad; and most likely the stated number of hours he was obliged to spend in the attorney's office, whether employed or not,seeing that he was thereby prevented, excepting a short space each day, from pur

suing his secret occupation in his own moonlight." He also would seldom eat room, was a subject of disgust. Never- animal food; "not, like Byron, for fear of theless, he is represented as having been a getting fat, but like Shelley, because he faithful apprentice, and in regard to general conduct, no way exceptionable.

supposed it to impair the intellect." We are also told that he never tasted strong liquors; but lived "upon a tart only, and There was very little business transacted in Lambert's office; and, with the exception of two a crust of bread and a draught of pure spring or three hours, Chatterton had the whole day to water." "Sometimes his mother would himself. He was kept sufficiently strict, however; tempt him, when he paid her a visit, with being sent to the office every morning at eight the offer of a hot meal; to which he would o'clock, where he remained, omitting the sixty reply, that he had a work in hand, and must minutes allotted for dinner, till the clock stood at not make himself more stupid than God had the same hour in the evening. He was then at made him." But even the leisure amid the liberty till ten o'clock, at which time the family dull routine of the attorney's office was not went to bed. When in the house, which was distinct from the office, he was confined to the likely, by such an aspiring and enthusiastic kitchen; he slept with the foot-boy, and was sub- youth, to be wasted apart from the dreams jected to other indignities of a like nature. His and the work in hand which are identified pride, which characterized him, took offence at this with the name of Chatterton. mortifying treatment, and he became gloomy and sullen, exhibiting frequent fits of ill-temper.

Lambert, indeed, was a vulgar, insolent, imperious man; who, because the boy wrote poetry, was of a melancholy and contemplative disposition, and disposed to study and reading, thought him a fit object of insult and contemptuous usage. Yet, notwithstanding, he bears the highest testimony to the worth of Chatterton, to his regularity in his profession, his punctual attendance on all the duues required of him, and admits that he once only had occasion to correct him. And then Chatterton must needs satirize the head-master of the school he had just left, a Mr. Warner, in an anonymous letter, written in very abusive terms, but which the handwriting, only partially disguised, and the texture of the paper, being the same as that used in the office, brought home to the real culprit. On this occasion he struck him a few blows.

There was in Lambert's office-library, among a heap of law-books possessing little interest to Chatterton, an old copy of Camden's Britannia. From a bookseller of Bristol he obtained, as a loan, an edition of Speight's Chaucer, which every body knows to be in black letter; and for his own use compiled from the scanty glossary which is appended to that work a counter-glossary, having for its arrangement, in something like alphabetical order, so as to be easy of reference, the words in modern English, with the word corresponding to each in the antiquated diction of Chaucer. The books, however, from which he derived most assistance, were the English Dictionaries of Kersey and Bailey; from which it has been incontestably proved that nearly the whole of the obsolete words employed in the Rowley poems were obtained. He had access also to the old library at Bristol, in Chatterton was a good apprentice. There are which were to be consulted such works as Holinstill extant in his handwriting a folio book of law-shed's Chronicles, Geoffry of Monmouth, and Fulforms and precedents; containing three hundred ler's Church History. and thirty-four closely written pages; also thirtysix pages in another book of the same kind. În the noting-book are thirty-six notarial acts, besides many notices and letters transcribed in the ordinary book. These were done independently of his regular duties. At night, punctually as the clock struck ten, he would be at Mr. Lambert's door. "We saw him," his sister writes, "most evenings before nine; and he would in general stay to the limits of his time, which was ten. He was seldom two evenings together without seeing us." The time also which was at his command, when he ne

glected to visit his friends, was generally spent in Solitary rambles. Mr. Lambert says that he never knew him in bad company, or suspected him of any inclination thereto.

The two hours a day and the Sundays, which Chatterton had for his own favorite pursuits, did not constitute all the time which he devoted to them. His sister's account shows that much of the night was spent by him awake and in study. They heard him frequently say that "he found he studied best towards the full of the moon, and would sit up all night, and write by

Chatterton was now prepared as well as inclined to practise his deceptions upon a wider scale, and wiser heads than the pewterer presented. In the year 1768, when a new bridge was completed at Bristol, there appeared in Farley's Bristol Journal, from a correspondent signing himself "Dunhelmus Bristolensis," "a description of the Mayor's first passing over the old bridge, taken from an old manuscript." At the office of the journal no one could tell who sent the contribution or who had discovered the alleged original. On the appearance of a second paper, however, Chatterton was recognised as the correspondent, and was instantly besieged by the Bristolian antiquaries, who never suspected the trick, in order to have a sight and an account of the original; accompanying their application with threats, although they were obliged at last to be satisfied with the story, that it had been found among manuscripts belonging to his father, which had been taken from a chest in Red

cliffe church. We must add some partic- subject of the churches and public edifices of Brisulars with regard to this muniment-coffer. tol. Chatterton undertakes to examine the papers

In the church of St. Mary Redcliffe, of Rowley for that purpose; and in a few days Bristol, which was founded or rebuilt by ancient churches of Bristol, which formerly occubrings him a true and particular account of the W. Canynge, an eminent merchant of Bris-pied the sites of the existing structures. The histol, in the reign of Edward IV., there is a torian entertains no doubt of the authenticity of room in which were deposited six or seven the document; rewards his young friend with a chests, one of which was called Mr. Ca-sum of money; and Chatterton, more elated than nynge's coffer. This chest had formerly ever, goes off to coin his brains afresh, and invent, been secured by six keys, intrusted to dif- not only churches, but casties, and even palaces. ferent persons; but in process of time the And from time to time does he furnish keys were lost; and when, about 1727, a Mr. Barrett with similar documents, of notion prevailed that the chest contained such magnitude, moreover, that as he does some title-deeds, an order was made for not hesitate to publish them, they occupy its examination by an attorney and the locks no inconsiderable portion of his large quarwere broken open. The deeds found in it to volume, a work otherwise of considerawere taken away; but a number of other ble value and research. Besides Mr. Barmanuscripts were left exposed to casual rett's book was the means of extending depredation. Many of them were carried Chatterton's fame, so as to feed his propenoff; but the father of Chatterton, his rela- sity. His constitutional temperament contionship to the sexton affording particular tinued also to develop itself more fully; opportunities, was insatiable in his plun- leading people to think that he was going der, and removed baskets full of parch- mad. "For days together, he would hardly ments; of which however he made no bet-utter a word; he would enter and quit his ter use than as covers to books. Young master's house without deiguing to address Chatterton has been said, soon after the a single individual." However, his studies commencement of his clerkship, to have extended as well as his ambition; medicine been accidentally struck with one of these parchments, converted into his mother's thread-paper, and on inquiry, to have obtained a remaining hoard of them yet unused. Whatever was the fact of his first knowledge of them, it is probable that he early formed the design of converting the circumstance into a system of literary for

and Latin coming in for a share of his time, for a short period. In December of 1768, he wrote anonymously to Dodsley, intimating that the writer could procure a variety of productions, "wrote by one Rowley, a priest of Bristol, who lived in the reign of Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth," and offering to transmit copies. In the February following Chatterton wrote in more direct and explicit terms, saying that he had had an opportunity of perusing a tragedy called Ella, of which he not only pronounced a high opinion, but furnished a specimen. He required a guinea for a copy, alleging that the possessor absolutely refused giving one, "unless I give him a guinea for a consideration." But Dodsley does not appear to have paid any such heed to these letters as amounted to a money return.

With this gentleman our friend is disposed to be somewhat communicative. He gives him a copy of the Bristowe Tragedy, Rowley's Epitaph upon Canynge's Ancestor, and other smaller pieces. In a few days aftewards, he gives him the Chatterton next made a bolder attempt, Yellow Roll. About this period, Mr. Barrett, a addressing Horace Walpole. The letter is surgeon of Bristol, and a man of great respectabil-dated March, and runs thus:-"Sir,-beity, has undertaken to publish a history of Bristol, and is anxiously collecting materials for that working versed a little in antiquities, I have met His friends, eager to procure him intelligence, fail with several curious manuscripts, among not to apprise him of the treasure of ancient poems which the following may be of service to and other manuscripts relative to Bristol, which you in any future edition of your truly enhave been discovered in the oaken repository in tertaining Anecdotes of Painting. In corRedcliffe church. Mr. Calcott hastens, specimens recting the mistakes (if any) in the notes, in hand, to his study. The poems are examined, you will greatly oblige your most humble. pronounced authentic, and Chatterton is introduced to the believing historian; whom he immediately servant, Thomas Chatterton." supplies, not only with poems, but with materials of the utmost value for his own work. It is Mr. Barrett's purpose to collect information on the

The curious manuscripts consisted of a pretended History of Painting in Great Britain, going back to its alleged introduc

tion in the time of Hengist, whose heraldic bearings and those of the period were also described. There were also added some notes, and a poem of a certain priest, "who was inducted in 1786." Walpole's skill was sufficient to lead him to suspect the heraldry of the story; but he sent a polite reply, intimating that he was ignorant of the Saxon language, yet willing to receive more specimens, and that he might even be induced to further the publication of Rowley's poems. Chatterton was emboldened, and supplied Walpole with not merely a variety of specimens, but with an account of his condition, and a hint about patronage. The specimens were submitted to Gray and Mason, who pronounced them fabrications. Walpole now wrote to Chatterton more guardedly and coolly, tendering some good advice; but delaying to return the manuscripts.

About the same time the poet, among other wayward notions, bethought himself of becoming a Methodist preacher, although he had grown skeptical in a religious sense. He also gave heed to his satirical powers, and bred himself sundry enemies. Bristol and the attorney ship had become altogether distasteful to him; and as he had already been a contributor to several London periodicals, he at last determined to try his fortune in the metropolis, as a literary adventurer. How he arranged matters with his master, it is needless to inquire; but with some pecuniary assistance by his friends he reached, on the 26th of April, 1770, the grand sphere of his ambitious hopes. A few days after his arrival he wrote to his mother in the following sanguine terms:

little meannesses, none of your mercenary securi-
ties, which disgrace that miserable hamlet. Dress,
which is in Bristol an eternal fund of scandal, is
here only introduced as a subject of taste: if a man
dresses well he has taste; if careless, he has his
own reasons for so doing, and is prodent. Need I
remind you of the contrast? The poverty of au-
thors is a common observation, but not always a
true one. No author can be poor who understands
the arts of booksellers. Without this necessary
knowledge, the greatest genius may starve; and
with it, the greatest dunce live in splendor. This
knowledge I have pretty well dipped into.
Again, and a few days later:

Matters go on swimmingly. Mr. Fell having offended certain persons, they have set his creditors upon him, and he is safe in the King's Bench. I have been bettered by this accident; his successors in the Freeholder's Magazine knowing nothing of the matter, will be glad to engage me on my own terms. Mr. Edmunds has been tried before the House of Lords, sentenced to pay a fine, and thrown into Newgate. His misfortunes will be to me of no little service. Last week, being in the pit of Drury Lane Theatre, I contracted an immediate acquaintance (which you know is no hard task to me) with a music shop, the greatest in the city. Hearing young gentleman in Cheapside, partner in a I could write, he desired me to write a few songs for him. This I did the same night, and conveyed them to him the next morning. These he showed to a doctor in music; and I am invited to treat with this doctor, on the footing of a composer, for Ranelagh, and the Gardens. Bravo! hey boys, up we go! Besides the advantage of visiting these expensive and polite places gratis, my vanity will be fed with the sight of my name in copper-plate, and my sister will receive a bundle of printed songs, the words by her brother. These are not all my acquisitions: a gentleman, who knew me at the Chapter as an author, would umberland, in his intended general tour. But, have introduced me to the young Duke of Northalas! I spake no tongue but my own.

And again on the 30th May:

I am settled, and in such a settlement as I would desire. I get four guineas a month by one maga- My present profession obliges me to frequent zine: shall engage to write a history of England places of the best resort. To begin with what and other pieces, which will more than double that every female conversation begins with, dress: I sum. Occasional essays for the daily papers would employ my money in fitting myself fashionably more than support me. What a glorious prospect! and getting into good company; this last article Mr. Wilkes knew me by my writings since I first always brings me in interest. But I have encorresponded with the booksellers here. I shall gaged to live with a gentleman, the brother of a visit him next week, and by his interest will insure lord, (a Scotch one indeed,) who is going to adMrs. Balance the Trinity House. He affirmed, vance pretty deeply into the bookselling branchthat what Mr. Fell had of mine could not be the es. I shall have lodging and boarding, genteel writings of a youth; and expressed a desire to see and elegant, gratis: this article, in the quarter the author. By the means of another bookseller I of the town he lives, with worse accommodations, shall be introduced to Townsend and Sawbridge. would be fifty pounds per annum. I shall have I am quite familiar at the Chapter Coffee House, likewise no inconsiderable premium, and assure and know all the geniuses there. A character is yourself every month shall end to your advannow unnecessary; an author carries his character tage. I will send you two silks this summer; in his pen. My sister will improve herself in draw- and expect in answer to this, what colors you ing. My grandmother is, I hope, well. Bristol's prefer. My mother shall not be forgotten. My mercenary walls were never destined to hold me-employment shall be writing a voluminous histothere I was out of my element; now I am in it-ry of London; to appear in numbers, the beginLondon. Good God! how superior is London to ning of the next winter. As this will not, like that despicable place Bristol. Here is none of your writing political essays, oblige me to go to the cof