7th of April, 1747, he had the misfortune to be blown up with the powder allotted for the soldiers who were to guard Lord Lovat to his execution the Thursday following. His life was miraculously preserved by the intervention of a falling beam, which MONTHLY MIRROR, FOR JULY, 1804. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MR. JEFFERSON. (With a Portrait.) MR. THOMAS JEFFERSON, the son of a respectable farmer of Carthorp, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, was born on the 31st of January, 1731-2. At a very early age he lost his mother; and his father, who, at first, intended him for his own business, failing shortly after, he was put under the care of his maternal uncle, a Mr. Burton, of Beadle Woodhouse, who, finding his nephew's ideas above those of a ploughboy, articled him, when fourteen years old, to a neighbouring attorney. His first six months were employed in journies of business about the country, on horseback, which he performed with so much adroitness, that his master soon told him to prepare for a journey to London. This was the summit of his wishes: he applied to his uncle, who granted him the necessary supplies for such an undertaking-but, to his great mortification, the night only before he was to set out, he was told by his master, that he had altered his intention, and meant to perform the journey himself. This was a sad disappointment to our hero, whose mind was set on the expedition so much, that, a very few days after his master's departure, he resolved to take French leave of his friends, and follow him. A remarkably fine charger having been purchased in the neighbourhood for General Fawkes, young Jefferson offered to ride it to London, and obtained permission for that purpose, under the promise that he would take great care of the animal, and not ride it more than twenty miles a day. Thus mounted, without the consent or even knowledge of his friends, he bent his course towards the metropolis, where he arrived in safety in January 1747, and received a sinall present for the propriety with which he had executed his commission. One of his relations was the person who kept the Tilt Yard Coffee House, and while on a visit to him, on Tuesday the 7th of April, 1747, he had the misfortune to be blown up there, with the powder allotted for the soldiers who were to guard Lord Lovat to his execution the Thursday following. His life was miraculously preserved by the intervention of a falling beam, which halted immediately over his head. From this perilous situation he was fortunately very soon rescued, for had he remained in it many minutes, he must have been suffocated with the smoke. Several lives were lost, and many limbs shattered.-A short time after this he was present at the performance of the Committee, when the beautiful Woffington, in Ruth, so captivated his heart, that he resolved from that period, to drop every other pursuit for the stage. The accident at the Tilt Yard brought about a reconciliation with his uncle, who enabled him to proceed in his design. While preparing himself for this new profession, by the study of various characters, the wellknown Charlotte Skinner, formerly engaged in Foote's Tea, advertised a play at the Little Theatre, to be peformed by amateurs-to her he immediately went, offered his services, and was desired, in return, to get ready in the part of Horatio, in the Fair Penitent. As soon as he had perfected himself in the character, he again waited on the lady; but the High constable had, in the mean time, prohibited the performance, and nothing but an application to Foote could enable them to exhibit the intended entertainments. Anxious to obtain his consent, our hero immediately repaired to him at Mr. Delaval's, in Dover-street. Both these gentlemen agreed, in case permission could not be procured from Henry Fielding, the magistrate, (who, on being applied to, declined to interfere) that the house should be opened gratis; and they promised, in person, to collect an optional contribution from every person who might be present; they did so, and at the end of Act III. sent her one hundred guineas; no collection had then been made from the gallery, which also produced a handsome sum. On this night the celebrated Mrs. Yates, then Miss Farmer, made her debût in Captain Loveit, in Miss in her Teens. Thus initiated, our young actor waited on Garrick, who, as usual, advised a country excursion, with the promise of a future engagement. Through the recommendation of his friend Ackman, he obtained a situation in a company in Kent, and performed by the name of Burton. About a year afterwards he met with a Miss May, at Rye, and a mutual attachment was speedily formed between them. The lady's father, who was a sea-officer, not approving of our hero's addresses, took measures to prevent all intercourse between the lovers; but, in a short time, Mr. Jefferson, while performing at Battle, in Sussex, received a letter from Miss May, informing him that her father, having invest igated his character and expectations, had consented to their union, provided he would enter into bond, under a penalty of five hundred pounds, that she should not appear on the |