he

He is faid to have applied himself to reading about the age of feventeen, when gave evident figns of a propenfity to the study of poetry, in which he was greatly encouraged from an acquaintance which he had contracted, fince his refidence in the country, with Charles Frogley. This extraordinary person, who is now living at Amwell, and deferves particular notice, was by trade a bricklayer, a person of ftrong parts, but without education, who had, at his leifure hours, by a diligent and folitary perufal of fuch books as came within his reach, greatly improved his natural taste for metrical compofition. His occupation in life introduced him first into the house of Mr. Scott, where he observed fome little poetical effays of the fon. A fimilarity of difpofition foon brought on an intimacy between them, and Frogley gave his young friend the firft perception of good poetry, by puting into his hands the Paradife Loft of Milton.

Milton. Their acquaintance seems to have commenced about the year 1747, or 1748.

Mr. Scott, the father, lived in a very retired manner, and had little intercourfe with any but with those of his own perfuafion, who, though not without frequent instances of great ingenuity and ability among individuals, are not often much connected with the literary part of mankind: the neighbourhood of Amwell afforded little of fuch fociety, and Samuel Scott, the elder brother, though a young man of excellent fenfe, and by no means unacquainted with books, having contributed not a little to lead John to the love of reading, had no peculiar predilection for that branch of study, which foon became the favourite object of his brother's purfuit. The converfations and reflections of our author on this fubject, must have been therefore chiefly, if not wholly, confined to his

commu

communications with Frogley, whofe critical difcernment has been often mentioned to the writer of this account, by Scott, who declared, "that he feldom "found reafon, in his advancing ftate "of judgment, to diffent from the opi"nion of his friend Frogley."

The inclination of John Scott for writing verfe now increafing, he produced at times several detached pieces; and as he was not brought up to any profeffional employ, he had full time to indulge the bent of his genius. Befides the advantage of fo fincere an adviser as Frogley, he had formed an acquaintance with Mr. John Turner, who refided at Ware, with whom he appears to have spent part of his early life.

-Thee, my Turner, who in vacant youth Here oft in converse free.

AMWELL, Poetical Works, page 73.

This gentleman was born at Hertford, in the year 1734, and was removed to Ware at about three years old, where he received the rudiments of his education. He feems firft to have been introduced to Scott by Frogley, in 1753 or 1754. At about fixteen years of age, he was fent to London to continue his ftudies, at a diffenting academy, under the care of Dr. Jennings. In one of his letters to Scott, he regrets their late acquaintance, by which he loft fo much time, which might have been fpent in the company of one, who had improved his mind by reading and reflection; a companion that he had long fought for in vain at Ware.

Turner, however, made occafional vifits to his friends at Ware, and neglected no opportunity of improving his intimacy with Scott. He paffed many hours with him and Frogley; and dur

communications with Frogley, whofe critical difcernment has been often mentioned to the writer of this account, by Scott, who declared, "that he feldom "found reafon, in his advancing state "of judgment, to diffent from the opi"nion of his friend Frogley."

The inclination of John Scott for writing verfe now increasing, he produced at times several detached pieces; and as he was not brought up to any profeffional employ, he had full time to indulge the bent of his genius. Befides the advantage of so fincere an adviser as Frogley, he had formed an acquaintance with Mr. John Turner, who refided at Ware, with whom he appears to have spent part of his early life.

-Thee, my Turner, who in vacant youth Here oft in converfe free.

AMWELL, Poetical Works, page 73.