these fine qualities he wanted some that are not always found in their company and in that of youth-forethought, deliberation, patience under disappointment, submission to repugnant tasks, and indifference to the trifling circumstance of being always unthanked and generally misapprehended. What young man of one-and-twenty understands his own character sufficiently to justify such an attempt? His principles were but partially recognised by the writers with whom he was brought into connexion, and he was of too impatient a temperament to afford them time to understand him. His pride speedily revolted from the position he had voluntarily chosen, and at the expiration of about a year and a half he abandoned the experiment; the result was-neither good nor harm, beyond loss of time. During this period, and up to the year 1830, a few trifles had been written; a tragedy on the subject of Philip van Artevelde was planned, and two acts composed; a melodrame or two, never acted, swelled the stock; but nothing was published. A change of scene was now resolved upon: in the summer of that year Mr. Air worth started on a tour in Switzerland and Italy.

It was in the following year, during a visit to Chesterfic that he first thought of writing a three-volumed tale, and idea of "Rookwood" arose. He has told us his ob' "Wishing," he says, "to describe somewhat minutely trim gardens, the picturesque domains, the rookgroves, the gloomy chambers, and gloomier galleries ancient hall with which I was acquainted, I resch attempt a story in the bygone style of Mrs. Rade. stituting an old English squire, an old manorial and an old English highwayman, for the It" the castle, and the brigand of that great mistre "Rookwood" was commenced, but many an occurred in the completion of the story: May, 1834, that it was published; but the design was worked out, the succe accomplished, was instantaneously re burgh Review" described the nove Mr. Ainsworth has ventured + revive the almos xplod. I natural; and

long gone 1737, wit!

attorneys feats of

small space for at the outery, to been raised mach n the housebreaker uit? Why was this is not the only y raised long before at all? He had -heroes selected only Is on this offender, field. In answer to the romancer is surely ecause he was a housereaker.” And if misthe characters of such fon, and would kad us Schiller led the young in imitation, and might ncerning Bardolph and rs; but if mischief arise, ndency to produce it-that to the story to play off his it were, under cover of false ch avows the heroship on the e of timid tastes and trembling ject to no atrocity, no vulgarity, and not concentrated in the hero. cent-looking Arcadian sort of books, heart of Newgate. Of this we may Complain; but we cannot complain of en the hero's very name tells us we shall the end, wheresoever the story may pre

on libelled for his "Beggar's Opera," and been abused for his "Jonathan Wild the ellent company wherein to sin or to suffer mar; but those exquisite satires, if liable to be misunby the dull, are as innocent of evil as they are brave pose and profound in wit. They are what they profess and do not cheat the reader with a promise of some

are Robert Ainsworth, the well-known scholar and author of the Latin Dictionary, and Henry Ainsworth, the Brownist, who flourished at the commencement of the seventeenth century. The latter was one of the most profound Hebrew scholars of his time, and author of "Annotations upon the Old Testament," and of a translation of the Pentateuch. From these we come to the father of the living descendant from the learned stock, Thomas Ainsworth, of Manchester, a solicitor in very extensive practice.

This gentleman, though descended from a family resid ing at Plessington, in Lancashire, was born at Rosthorne, in Cheshire, a village which he always remembered with affection, and where, dying in June, 1824, he was interred. Manchester, however, the stage on which his active life was passed, benefited most largely by the ardour and zeal with which he devoted himself to the promotion of public improvements. He was one of the main instruments in causing the rebuilding and widening of one of the principal thoroughfares -Market-street; and though he did not live to see the work accomplished, his name must always be honourably connected with it. Of rather an irritable temperament, perhaps he was known extensively for a singular liberality of character and generosity of disposition. He was a man of taste and virtu; uniting, with a fair degree of classical scholarship, considerable proficiency in botany, and a general fondness for scientific pursuits; and thus the excellent library he possessed was throughout life a source of pleasure and recreation that lightened the graver duties he so faithfully discharged.

Thomas Ainsworth married, in 1802, Ann, daughter of the Rev. Ralph Harrison, a Presbyterian divine, and Ann Touchet. This divine, himself the son of a minister, and great-grandson to the Rev. Cuthbert Harrison, who, as a famous Nonconformist teacher, is noticed in Dr. Calamy's account of ejected ministers, attained a high reputation in Manchester as a preacher, an author, and a scholar. In the Academy there, he was appointed professor of the Greek and Latin languages, and of polite literature. He produced many able works of an educational character; and left behind him a volume of discourses that fully bear out his claim to the affectionate regard in which his character and ministrations were held. Of these sermons, which, with a biographical memoir, were first printed in 1813, a new edition appeared in 1827. It may here be mentioned, as a somewhat rare occurrence in the life of a

Presbyterian minister, that this reverend person, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, realised, by fortunate speculations in land and building, a large fortune, leaving behind him upwards of 60,0007. Of this union, two sons were born; the elder named William Harrison, the younger Thomas Gilbert, who distinguished himself at Cambridge, and taking a scholarship there, unfortunately fell into illhealth from over-study, which so affected his nervous system that he never took his degree, and his intention of going into the Church was therefore abandoned.*

William Harrison Ainsworth was born on the 4th of February, 1805, at the house of his father, in King-street, Manchester; but not long after, the family removed to a very commodious and pleasantly-situated country-house, called Beech-hill, about two miles from the town, on the Chetham side. Here was a very extensive garden; and here all the time that could be spared by its possessor from professional pursuits was devoted to the studies and recreations of which he was so passionately fond. The grounds were laid out under his own eye, and several of the trees were planted by the young brothers.

To the education of the elder of these it is now necessary to refer. The early part of it was undertaken by his uncle, the Rev. William Harrison; and then, while still very young, he was placed at the free grammar-school in Manchester, in one of the classes of the Rev. Robinson Elsdale.

In this school, which was founded early in the sixteenth century, many persons eminent for science and learning have been educated. The list extends as far back as the reign of Mary, opening with the well-known name of John Bradford, who suffered martyrdom in 1555. Reginald Heber (the father of the bishop) was here, Cyril Jackson, and his brother the Bishop of Oxford, the first Lord Alvanley, Mr. Morritt of Rokeby, David Latouche, the celebrated banker, Mr. Justice Williams, and many others. Here our youthful student so far distinguished himself as to have received very flattering testimonials from Dr. Smith (the then head-master of the school), and his colleague, Dr. Elsdale. He wrote several translations from the Latin and Greek poets, which obtained their approbation. In this school he remained, gathering honour and advantage, until he reached

*Thomas Gilbert Ainsworth died on the 9th of April, 1876, at Hill View Lodge, Reigate, and was interred in the Kensal Green Cemetery.

the first form, when his father, who designed his son to be his successor, placed him as a clerk with an eminent solicitor in the town.

It had been his father's wish, when the period of the youth's law-studies commenced, that he should devote himself chiefly to that branch of the profession which it was intended he should practise-conveyancing; but no great progress was made in this study. Byron, Scott, and Shelley had charms that title-deeds could never boast; writing verses was far more attractive than making abstracts, and drawing drafts bore no comparison to sketching for magazines. It was the old story-he was literally

A youth foredoom'd his father's hopes to cross,
Who penn'd a stanza when he should engross.

The nameless editor of a magazine was, in his enchanted view, greater by far than the greatest of the whole tribe of lawyers; and the occupation of the editorial chair appeared in his fanciful dream an object worthier of a loftier ambition than a seat on the woolsack.

On his father's death, which occurred, as we have said, in 1824, he awakened to a sense of the expediency of completing his term as a conveyancer, and qualifying himself for assuming the professional responsibility which this bereavement devolved upon him. With this view he repaired to London, to finish his term with Mr. Jacob Phillips, of the Inner Temple. Yet it does not appear that he devoted himself with the adequate diligence and zeal to professional study. The literary enthusiasm was still the stronger feeling, though less productive in its immediate results than before; for the metropolis was a novel scene, and some time was spent in acquainting himself with its amuse

ments.

Not long before the completion of his appointed stay in town, he commenced an acquaintance with Mr. Ebers, at that time the manager of the Opera House, and a constant attendance there was, of course, included among the young lawstudent's London pleasures.

We now have to record an important event in life-the marriage of Mr. Ainsworth to Fanny, the youngest daughter of Mr. Ebers. This event occurred in the autumn of 1826. Three daughters, still living, were the offspring of this union. They lost their mother in the spring of 1838.