Biography of the blind: including the lives of all who have distinguished themselves as poets, philosophers, artists &c / By James Wilson.

  • Wilson, James, 1779-1845.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Biography of the blind: including the lives of all who have distinguished themselves as poets, philosophers, artists &c / By James Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    knew the names, stations, and Admirals of almost all the ships in the navy, and was also acquainted with the number, facing and name of every regiment in the army, according to the respective towns, cities or shires, from which they were raised. I served, of course, as an army and navy list for the poor in the neighbourhood, wTho had relations in either of these departments, and was capable of informing them of all the general newrs. The following anecdote shews the powers of my memory at that period. Being invited by a friend to spend an evening at his house, I had scarcely sat down when three gentlemen entered. The conversation turned on the news of the day; I was requested by my friend to repeat the names of as many of the ships of the British navy as I could re¬ collect, telling me that he had a particular reason for making the request. I commenced, and my friend marked them down as 1 went along, until I repeated 620, when he stopped me, saying I had gone far enough. The cause of the request was then explained. One of the gentlemen had wagered a supper that I could not mention 500; he, however, expressed him¬ self much pleased at his loss, having been, as he acknowledged, highly entertained by the experiment Although at this time, I had little relish for any other kind of reading but newspapers and novels, yet ] was not wholly insensible to the charms of poetry. I amused myself with making verses at intervals, but I could never produce any thing in that way which pleased myself. My acquaintances, particularly the young people, gave me sufficient employment in