THE L I F FE OF MR. HIL L. OBERT HILL, fon of was born January 11, 1699, at Mifwell, a little village of only three or four houses, near Tring in Hertfordshire. His mother's maiden name was Clark; fhe loft her husband within the year; returned to her own family at Mifwell; and about five years after, was married to Thomas Robinfon, a taylor at Buckingham. On her going thither, fhe left our RoBERT, the only fon of her firft marriage, with his grand-mother at Mifwell; who taught him to read, and fent him to school for seven or eight weeks to learn to write; which was all the fchooling he ever had. In the year 1710, the removed with her family from Mifwell to Tring-grove; where little Ro BERT But BERT was employed in driving the plough, and other country bufinefs, for his uncle. they finding this rather too much for his conftitution, which was but weakly, thought an eafy trade would be better for him; and fo bound him (1714) apprentice to his father-in-law, Robinson, the taylor, at Buckingham. It was about two years after (1716) he was prentice, that he first happened to get an imperfect Accidence and Gram mar, and about three quarters of a Littleton's dictionary, into his poffeffion. From the first moment of fo great an acquifition, he was reading whenever he could; and as they would fcarce allow him any time from his work by day, he used to procure candles as privately as he could, and indulge himself in the violent paffion he had for reading, for good part of the nights. He wanted greatly to learn Latin; why, does not appear: For he himself does not remember any other reason for it at prefent, than that he might be able to read a few Latin epitaphs in their church. However that be, this pursuit of his was foon interrupted (1717), by the fmall-pox coming into Buckingham, and growing fo violent there, that his friends fent him to Tring-grove; and, in the hurry, his books were left behind him. At the Grove, he was employed in keeping his uncle's fheep; and fpeaks of that occupation in as high a stile of happiness, as the romance-writers talk of their Ar |