CHATTERTON, THOMAS, was born at Bristol on the 20th of November 1752. 111. father (who died three month, before the birth of his son) was sexton at Redcliff church, and also master of a charity school in l'ylo-street. At the age of five years he was placed under the care of Mr. Love, who succeeded his father in the school ; but his progress was so slow, that after his master had exhausted his patience in attempting to teach him, he sent him back to his mother as a "dull boy, and incapable of further instruction." Ills mother now took him under her care, and at the ago of six yearn he first learned his letters from the illuminated capitals of an old French musical manuscript, with which, to use her expression, he " fell in love " and it is probable that his passion for antiquarian pursuits received its first impulse from this circumstance. His progress was now at rapid as it fund before been slow; books of all kinds, but more especially those which treated of ancient customs, were his chief companions. On the 3rd of August 1760, when not quite eight years of age, be was admitted into Colston's school, Bristol, an establishment somewhat similar in plan with Christ's Hospital, in London. Ile remained there seven years, during which time he wrote some minor pieces of poetry, chiefly satirical, and the celebrated De Bergham pedigree. On- the 1st of July 1767, he left the charity Itched, and was bound apprentice to ble John Lambert, attorney of Bristol, for seven years. In the beginning of October 1763, the new bridge at Bristol was completed, and at that time there appeared in Felix Farley's 'Bristol Journal an article purporting to be the transcript of an ancient manuscript, entitled, ' A Description of the Fryers first passing over the Old Bridge, taken from an Antient Manuscript.' This paper, so singularly curious, and exhibiting such strong powers of invention, was traced to Chatterton, who was at first rather harshly interrogated as to the manner by which it came into his possession. After several contradictory statements, he asserted that he,had received the paper in question from his father, who had found it, with many others, in some chests in Redcliff church, where they had been deposited in the muniment room in "Canynge's cofre." Soon after this occurrence he became acquainted with Mr. Cntcott, a gentleman fond of antiquarian researches, and with Mr. Barrett, surgeon, who was engaged in writing a history of Bristol. To the
former gentleman he took, very coon after his introduction to him, some of the pretended Bowler's:1 poems, among which were ' The Bristow Tragedy," Rowley 's Epitaph upon Mr. Canynge's Ancestor; with some other email pieces. This Rowley, according to Chatterton, was a priest of the 15th century, who had been patronised by Canyngc. He shortly afterwards presented to Mr. Catcott the ' Yellow Roll.' To Mr. Barrett he furnished an account of every church and chapel in Bristol, which he stated to have been found by him among the old parchments. The pretended originals bore all the mark, of antiquity, which he had made them assume by rubbing them with ochre, /tamping on them, and blacking them in the chimney, or by the flame of a candle. Mr. Barrett published these statements in his work, fully believing them to be genuine. After his introduction to these gentlemen Chatterton 's ambition increased daily, and ho often spoke in raptures of the undoubted success of the plans that he had formed for his future life. His pursuits were various—heraldry, English antiquities, metaphysics, mathematics, astronomy, music, and physic, by turns occupied his attention ; but the two first were his favourite pursuits. About this time he also wrote various pieces, chiefly satirical ; and several essays, both in prose and verse, which he forwarded to the periodicals of the day. Most of his pieces appeared in the Town and Country Magazine.' Growing disgusted with re profession ill suited to his tastes, and with a master whom he dis liked, he made an application in March 1769, to I lorace Walpole, the ground of which was an offer to supply him with some accounts of a succession of painters who hind flourished at Bristol, which Chatterton affirmed to have been lately discovered, with some old poems, in that city. Walpole accepted the offer with warmth, but afterwards seemed to have cooled upon it, probably from suspecting the forgery of the accounts, or ascribing but little value to them ; and on being impor tuned by Clintterten for his assistance to release him from his profession, neglected to answer his letters. At last, when he had received a spirited letter from Chatterton, demanding his manuscripts (a letter which ho termed "singularly impertinent "), Walpole returned the manuscript. with Chatiertonk letters in a blank cover.