Volume 1

The pursuit of knowledge under difficulties / [George L. Craik].

  • George Lillie Craik
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The pursuit of knowledge under difficulties / [George L. Craik]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    self, became so much interested in his favour, that he determined to rescue him from his obscurity. “ The plan,” says Gifford, “ that occurred to him was naturally that which had so often suggested itself to me. There were, indeed, several obstacles to be overcome. My hand-writing was bad, and my language very incorrect; but nothing could slacken the zeal of this excellent man. He procured a few of my poor attempts at rhyme, dispersed them amongst his friends and acquaintance, and, when my name was become somewhat familiar to them, set on foot a subscription for my relief. I still pre- serve the original paper ; its title was not very mag- nificent, though it exceeded the most sanguine wishes of my heart. It ran thus: ‘A subscription for pur- chasing the remainder of the time of William Gifford, and for enabling him to improve himself in writing and English grammar.’ Few contributed more than five shillings, and none went beyond ten and six- pence,—enough, however, was collected to free me from my apprenticeship *, and to maintain me for a few months, during which I assiduously attended the Rev. Thomas Smerdon.” The rest of the story may be very compendiously told. The difficulties of the poor scholar were now over, for his patrons were so much pleased with the progress he made during this short period, that, upon its expiration, they renewed their bounty, and main- tained him at school for another year. “ Such libe- rality,” he remarks, “ was not lost upon me ; I grew anxious to make the best return in my power, and I redoubled my diligence. Now that I am sunk into indolence, I look back with some degree of scepticism to the exertions of that period.” In two years and two months from what he calls the day of his emanci- “The sum my master received was six pounds.”