ness with which it was sought that three editions were printed before the end of January.
But his prosperous business did not keep pace with his insatiate desire for knowledge, and to open new channels he "had begun," he says,
in 1732 to study languages; I soon made myself so much a master of the French, as to be able to read the books with ease. I then undertook the Italian. An acquaintance, who was also learning it, us'd often to tempt me to play chess with him. Finding this took up too much of the time I had to spare for study, I at length refused to play any more unless on this condition, that the victor in every game should have a right to impose a task, either in parts of the grammar to be got by heart, or in translations, etc, which tasks the vanquish'd was to perform upon honour before our next meeting. As we play'd pretty equally, we thus beat one another into that language. I afterwards, with a little pains-taking, acquired as much of the Spanish as to read their books also. I have already mention'd that I had only one year's instruction in a Latin school, and that when very young, after which I neglected that language entirely. But, when I had attained an acquaintance with the French, Italian, and Spanish, I was surpris'd to find, in looking over a Latin Testament, that I understood so much more of that language than I had imagined, which encouraged me to apply myself again to the study of it, and I met with more success, as those preceding languages had greatly smooth'd my way.[1]
His ambition ever to learn was well sustained by his incomparable energy and self-denial.
- ↑ Bigelow, i. 198
