The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-08-30
Titerrrp @isceilatlv.
For the REpvBLIcAx.
MIScELLAyNEA--No. w.
WILLIAM CLIFFORD, ESQ,

from humble origin. His progcnitors boast
| no honours. He received his birth in man
sion of indigence." While he was young his
father fell victim to intemperancc. His
mother soon followed, |" exhausted with anx-
iety and grief" His opportunity of education
had been confined, and his proficiency most
wretchcd indeed. AT about thirteen he be-
came cabin-boy, g rock'd with the pillows
to and fro" where he was subjected to all the
Inconvenience and bardships of nautical
life, After continuing in this situation for
nearly year, he Quilted the employment,
| and, for a short time, attended school, pArith-
metick was his favouritc study. AT fourteen
he was bound an apprentice to shoemaker.
| Here he was doomed to experience still fur
ther the frowns of fortune. He possessed
strong desire to gain information, but was de-
MED the means. he had no books, except a
treatise on Algebra this he studied with
great assiduity. For this purpose, however,
hcwas nccessitatcd to employ those hours
which others dedicated to sleep every kind
of literary pursuit being sternly prohibited by
his ignorant and sclf-conceited master. His
poverty was so great as to prevent him from
procuring pen, ink, and paper; in conse-
|! quence of which he was obliged to work his
| problems on pieces of hammered leather with
| a blunted awl.
His miscellaneous readings, at this time,
had extended no further than romance en-
titled PnfSnats and Parisme,sus a few Nag
| a-ineS and Thomas Kemhis. As yet he
appears not to have thought Of poetry The
occasion which first induced h;m to try his
powers at versi6cation, was fsome satirick
lines written by an acquaintance, on piece
of i'll painting, and which he had the ambition
to endeayour to emulate This maiden pro-
duction gained him the applause of his shop
mates. Subsequent occasions occurred to
wake his" struggling muse till his poetck
compositions amounted to about dozen-
| These he was often called upon to repeat in
his little circle, and sometimes elsewhere.
They were attended with commentators, and
not unfrequently with small pecuniary favours.
He had not committed any of his cffusions TO
writing, his poverty precluding him the
means ; but with the little collections he now
made he was enabled to purchase, by degrees,
books of geometry, paper, sc.
These ilattering prospects, however, were
but Of short duration. His inexorablc master
riiled him of his books and papers, and percmp-
torily forbid him all literary studies. This
was a severe stroke to poor. Clifford, and sunk
him into a state of gloolnincss and silent dis,
content. From this he was at length aroused
by the force of female charms. His appren-
ticeship began to draw to close, and he cher
ished Aattering and ambitious dreams.
/ But tickle fortune, which had SO long with.
held her boon, begun now to smile propitious
on this hitherto fettcred and neglected genius
The repetition of his verses accidentally reach
ed the, ears of Mr.. William Cookeslcy, and
inspired ' curiosity to enquire after the au-
tho-.ns The bencvolence of this gentleman
was quickly interested in his behalf, who be-
came dcsirous of rendering him some impor-
tant service, For this purpose a subscription
was set ON foot for his relief. Sufficient was
. collected to purchase the remainder of his
/ time, eighteen months, and to support him
I a short time at school The rapid progress
! he made in literature, induced his patrons to
renew their donations, forthe purpose of cone
tinuing him with his preceptor another year.
: He pcrscvered in his studies with redoubled
. diligence, and made hattcring returns to his.
friends for their bounty.
. During this period he cultivated his talents
for poetry. This Had become his chief de-
light AS he became acquainted with the
Latin and Greek languages, he practised trans
lations from the 'classicks. Juvcnal engaged
his attention in peculiar manner. He trans
lated several of the Satires with such success,
as obtained the appreciation of his teacher.
4 III little more than'two'years from the time
of his emancipation he entered Exeter Col
legc. Here he continued his translations OF
the Roman Satirist Afterquitting this SEM
mary he was taken into the protection ct Lord
Grovesneg. With this generous benefactor
he resided, still proceeding with Juvenl,'
/ till called upon to accompany his I.ordship's
+ son, in two successive tours, to the conti-
ncat. ~. ...
3 Such was the origin Of this illustrious char
acter; such the early struggles of that genius
I destined to receive the homage of remote
\ generations. His Bssviad and Msviad have
completely vanquished the tollies OF the Della