Being determined to relinquish his profession, Chntterton made every effort to accomplish this object. The idea of suicide became funnier to his mind, and he often intimated to Mr. Lamberee servants that he would put an end to his existence. On hearing this the family of his master became alarmed ; but Mr. Lambert himself could not be persuaded that his threats meant anything, until he found ono day on his desk a paper entitled, `The last Will and Testament of Thomas Chatterton,' and couched in terms which appeared to indicate au intention to destroy himself. Mr. Lambert now considered it im prudent to keep him any longer, and accordingly he dismissed him after he had been in his Ionic. about two years and nine months.
Chatterton went up to London, having received liberal offers from the booksellers. "My first attempt," said he, "shall be in the literary way : tho promises I have received are sufficient to dispel doubt; but should I, contrary to my expectation, find myself deceived, I will in that case turn Methodist preacher. Credulity is as potent a deity as ever; and a now sect may easily be devised. But if that too should tail me, my last and final resource is a pistol." llis first letters from London to his mother and sister are full of enthusiasm. "I am settled," aaya he, "and in such a settlement as I can desire. What a glorious prospect I" Party-writing seems to have been one of his favourite employments, and it would appear that be did not confine himself to one side. This kind of writing was agreeable to his satirical turn, and by raising him into immediate notice gratified his pride, which was unbounded. When recommended by a relation to get into some office, he stormed like a madman, and asserted that "he hoped, with the blessing of Ood, very soon to be sent prisoner to the Tower, which would make his fortune." His writings during his residence in
London were numerous and of varied character, from sermons to burlettas for Vauxhall ; but they failed to procure him a comfortable income, and he was plunged from the highest pinnacle of hope to the depths of despair. In tho month of July 1770 he removed from Shoreditch, where be had lodged, to an apartment in Brook-street, Holborn, where, on the 24th of August following, being literally in a state of starvation, be terminated his existence by poison. He was buried on the following day in the burying-ground of Shoe-lane work house.
Chatterton was only seventeen years and nine months old when he died. The person of Chatterton was, like his genius, precocious. One of his companions says he looked "like a spirit." His eyes were uncommonly piercing, and one more so than the other. His habits were domestic, and his affection for his relatives unbounded. The controversy as to the Rowleian poems engaged numerous writers of the day ; but few people now believe the Rowley poems to be anything else than the production of Chatterton himself. Of his genius there can be little doubt. His poetry has immaturity of thought atampt upon every stanza, but as the poetry of a boy it is often wonderfully fine. Had he had a better training and lived under happier circum stances, he might, unless the taint of insanity had been ineradicable, have come to be one of the first poets of his time.