Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-02-19
Atterarp.
LITERARY SELECTION
FOR THE DELAWARE PhTRIot


II was our intention TO have inserted a 5logra-
phcal memoir Of the author oi the iaslad in pre-
ceding volume Of this work. when we accidentally
obtained information that NIr. Clifford himself de-
signed to prefix sketch ii bis life to a Translation
OF Juvenal, which be was preparing Tor publication.
In consequence Of this intelligence reiinquished
the qualification Ut presenting to our readers some
very interesting particulars relative to that gentle
man, from persuasion that his own narrative would
at once cnrrect and enlarge the valuable materials
with which we have been favored..-Mr, Giifoni's
translation Of Juvcna has appeared, and with it the
expected memoir OF his HE, which We do not hes
best written morceour, which the pen OF the biog-
rapher has ever executed. We shall literally
copy the memoir. and it shall be our pleasing task
to supply some Deficiencies in the sequel of this in
terestiug narrative, task which the modest silence
Of the author has rendered necessary.
Of m, family (savs Mr.. 6hord.) know but
lltle and that little IS not very precise Ny great
grand father (the most remote OF it that ever re
collect to have heard mentioncd) possessed CON
siderable property at llalsworthy. parish in the
neishbolhood Of Ashburton but. whether acquired
OF inherited, never thought Of asking and dosrot
know. have. however, some faint notion otspear-
nw my mother say that he, or his father hal been
a China merchant, in London. BY China mer
chant | always understood, and SO, perhaps, did
she, dealer in China ,care He was probably.
native Of Devonshre, Cor there he spent the last
years OF his life, spent them too III some sort OF
considers alton, for Mr.. T. Ga very respectable
surgeon of Ashburton,) loved to repeat to ME,
when first grew into notice, that he had frequent
" hunted with hls hounds My grand father was
on i'll terms with him believe, net without suii
cient reason, for he extrayagant and dlssipaed
NV father never mentioned his name, but. my
mother would sometimes tell me that he had ~
ined his family. That he spent much know; but
| am inclined 10 think that his undutiiu conduc
accustomed my great grandfather to bequeath par
of his property from him.
4 NV father. fear revcEged in some measure
the cause of my grandfather. He was, as have
heard my mother say, very wild young man
4 He was sent to a grammar school at Exeter; iron
which he made hi, escape, and entered on board ;
man of war. He soon reclaimed from hi
situation by my grandfather, and left his school
second time, to wander III some vagabond society
He was now. probably. given up, for he Was, OF
his return from tins notable adventure, reduced t
article himself to piumber and slazler, viii
whom he luckily staid long enough TO learn HI
business. | suppose his father was now dead, 10
he became possessed Of two small estates, married
my mother the daughter Of a carpenter, nance
Cain, at hshburton, and thought himself ric
enough to set up for himself, which he did, wit
some credit, at South Motion. why he chose t
fix there, never inquired, but, learned from M
mother that after residence OF four or tive year
he was again thought'ess enough to engage in
dangerous frolic, which drove him once more I
, sea. This was an attempt to excite riot IN
f Methods, chapel, for which his companions wer
prosecuted. and he fled, as have mentioned.
Z Nv father was q good seaman, and was soo
made second in command in the Leon, larg
armed transport in the service Of government
: while my mother, (then with child OF mel re
turned to her native place, Ashburton, where
was born, in April l757.
The resources of my mother were very scanty
They were from the rent Of three or four small
sPublic Characters