chief endowments from Gifford, the satiric poet, and Dr. Ireland, the late Dean of Westminster.  I remember how I returned in gloomy spirits after leaving him there.  As I had four other children, it may be said that I showed undue partiality for this one, but my conscience clears me from the charge.  I deeply felt the loss of his companionship.  He was so suggestive that he set me thinking; and whilst I was endeavouring to teach, I acquired more knowledge than I imparted.  There was nothing remarkable in his progress at school.  I experienced no disappointment because he did not return home at the end of every half-year with the head prize.  He merely brought his six months’ bill, and a letter commending his steady diligence and uniform propriety of conduct.  In viva voce examinations he had scarcely an equal chance with one of inferior intellect who might be quicker in expression; for besides the trifling hesitation of speech I have already noticed, he would have been ashamed to give a wrong answer from eagerness.  A remark of Mr. Page, his tutor, confirmed me in my own previous impression on this point.  “It vexes me,” he said, “that John does not take a top prize, for I see by his countenance that he understands as much, if not more, than any boy in my school; yet from want of readiness in answering he allows very inferior lads to win the tickets from him.”  On the whole, I think he derived much benefit from Ashburton; for besides his scholastic improvement he became an adept at the usual games, and a social favourite out of school hours.

At the age of sixteen he left the grammar-school, and I find the 30th of May, 1850, to be the date of his articles to me as surgeon.  I had at that time taken a partner, Henry Manly, Esquire, now resident at Ipplepen, with a view of introducing and resigning to him my Ipplepen practice.  Being in a country place, five miles from Totnes, where there was no chemist or dispensary, my son readily acquired his duties, which were to distribute the medicines and appliances directed for our patients by my partner and myself.  In all cases his caution was extreme and we had no fear of his making mistakes.  The ordinary operations of extracting a tooth or breathing a vein when a bumpkin presented himself as a patient, he speedily mastered.  The absurd practice of going to be bled on any occasion that might strike the fancy of the party, without the advice of the doctor, was not at that time so completely obsolete as in this advanced age I hope it is, and ought to be.  I remember, during the time of my own articles, that I frequently performed venesection five or six times in a day on persons who requested and fancied they required it; and I seldom indulged in the liberty of asking, wherefore.