, according to
his constant maxim, by examining the soil; that is, studying his temper, in
order to consult the biass of his disposition, which was strangely perverted by
the absurd discipline he had undergone. He found him in a state of sullen
insensibility, which the child had gradually contracted in a long course of
stupifying correction; and at first he was not in the least actuated by that
commendation which animated the rest of his school-fellows; nor was it in the
power of reproach to excite his ambition, which had been buried, as it were, in
the grave of disgrace: the usher therefore had recourse to contemptuous neglect,
with which he affected to treat this stubborn spirit; foreseeing that if he
retained any seeds of sentiment, this weather would infallibly raise them into
vegetation: his judgment was justified by the event; the boy in a little time
began to make observations; he perceived the marks of distinction with which
virtue was rewarded, grew ashamed of the despicable figure he himself made
amongst his companions, who far from courting, rather shunned his conversation;
and actually pined at his own want of importance.
    Mr. Jennings saw and rejoiced at his mortification, which he suffered to
proceed as far as possible, without endangering his health. The child lost all
relish for diversion, loathed his food, grew pensive, solitary, and was
frequently found weeping by himself. These symptoms plainly evinced the recovery
of his feelings, to which his governor thought it now high time to make
application; and therefore by little and little altered his behaviour from the
indifference he had put on, to the appearance of more regard and attention. This
produced a favourable change in the boy, whose eyes sparkled with satisfaction
one day, when his master expressed himself with a shew of surprize in these
words, »So, Perry! I find you don't want genius, when you think proper to use
it.« Such encomiums kindled the spirit of emulation in his little breast; he
exerted himself with surprising alacrity, by which he soon acquitted himself of
the imputation of dullness, and obtained sundry honorary silver pennies, as
acknowledgements of his application: his schoolfellows now sollicited his
friendship as eagerly as they had avoided it before; and in less than a
twelvemonth after his arrival, this supposed dunce was remarkable for the
brightness of his parts; having in that short period learnt to read English
perfectly well, made great progress in writing, enabled himself to speak the
French language without hesitation, and acquired some knowledge in the rudiments
of the Latin tongue. The usher did not fail to transmit an
