Smollett, Tobias (1721-1777)

The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle.

London

Printed for the author

1751

"In this corps he remained three years, during which, he had no opportunity of seeing actual service, except at the affair of Glensheel; and this life of insipid quiet, must have hung heavy upon a youth of M---'s active disposition, had not he found exercise for the mind, in'reading books of amusement, history, voyages, and geography, together with those that treated of the art of war ancient and modern, for which he contracted such an eager appetite, that he used to spend sixteen hours a day in this employment."

In consequence of this reduction, which happened in the most severe season of the year, he was obliged to return to his own country, thro' infinite hardships, to which he was exposed from the narrowness of his circumstances; and continuing still enamoured of a military life, he entered into the regiment of Scotch greys, at that time commanded by the late Sir James Campbell, who being acquainted with his family and character, encouraged him with the promise of speedy preferment. In this corps he remained three years, during which, he had no opportunity of seeing actual service, except at the affair of Glensheel; and this life of insipid quiet, must have hung heavy upon a youth of M---'s active disposition, had not he found exercise for the mind, in'reading books of amusement, history, voyages, and geography, together with those that treated of the art of war ancient and modern, for which he contracted such an eager appetite, that he used to spend sixteen hours a day in this employment. About that time, he became acquainted with a gentleman of learning and taste, who observing his indefatigable application, and insatiable thirst after knowledge, took upon himself the charge of superintending his studies; and by the direction of such an able guide, the young soldier converted his attention to a more solid and profitable course of reading. So inordinate was his desire of making speedy advances [Page 179] in the paths of learning, that within the compass of three months, he diligently perused the writings of Lock, and Malbranche, and made himself master of the first six, and of the eleventh and twelfth books of Euclid's elements. He considered Puffendorf and Grotius with uncommon care, acquired a tolerable degree of knowledge in the French language, and his imagination was so captivated with the desire of learning, that seeing no prospect of a war, or views of being provided for in the service, he quitted the army, and went through a regular course of university education. Having made such progress in his studies, he resolved to qualify himself for the church, and acquired such a stock of school divinity under the instructions of a learned professor at Edinburgh, that he more than once mounted the rostrum, in the public hall, and held forth with uncommon applause: But being discouraged from a prosecution of his plan, by the unreasonable austerity of some of the Scotch clergy, by whom, the most indifferent and innocent words and actions, were often misconstrued into levity and misconduct; he resolved to embrace the first favourable opportunity of going abroad, being enflamed with the desire of seeing foreign countries, and actually set out for Holland, where for the space of two years, he studied the Roman law, with the law of nature and nations, under the famous professors Tolieu and Barbyrac.

Body::Exercise

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33 entries in ESTC (1751, 1758, 1763, 1765, 1769, 1773, 1775, 1776, 1778, 1779, 1781, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1791, 1793, 1794, 1798, 1799, 1800).

Smollett, Tobias. The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle. In which are included, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality., 4 vols. (London: printed for the author, 1751). <Link to ESTC>

03/20/2007