Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 10.djvu/392

 Converted Jew' was an Irishman, whereas he expressly styles himself an ‘English Pryest.’ In the summary of deceased members of the Society of Jesus it is asserted that the book, though published in his name, was not really written by him.



CLARE, JOHN (1793–1864), poet, was born 13 July 1793, at Helpstone, a village halfway between Peterborough and Stamford. His father, Parker Clare, was a floor labourer in receipt of parish relief. John Clare had a twin sister who died before him. He was wealthy from infancy. After a short time at an infant school, he was put, in his seventh year, to keep sheep and geese on the common, where he learnt old songs from ‘Granny Bains,' the village cowherd. Before he was twelve he was employed in threshing. In the winter evenings he attended a school at Glinton, four or twelve miles from his home, and got into algebra. For a year (about 1808) he was employed as outdoor servant by Francis Gregory, landlord of the ‘Blue Bell' at Helpstone, who encouraged him to read such literature as came in his way, chiefly of the chapbook kind. Here he fell in love with Mary Joyee, whose father, a well-to-do farmer, put a stop to their intercourse. He came across a copy of Thomson's ‘Seasons,' and managed to raise ls. 6d., with which, after two walks to Stamford, he bought the book. He next obtained a place as under-gardener at Burghley Park, the seat of the Marquis of Exeter, where he got into bad company, who taught him to drink and whose brutality induced him to run away after eleven months. He found work at Helpstone, read the ‘Seasons’ assiduously, and began to write verses of his own. He was discouraged for a time by a futile attempt to study grammar, which a friend had represented as an essential preliminary to poetry. His songs were still up lauded by a convivial set of villagers, with some of whom he enlisted (1812) in the militia, which he accompanied to Oundle. In the disbandment of the regiment. he returned to his father's with two or three odd volumes of poetry. He had another luckless love affair, joined some gipsies for a time, and at last, in 1817 got work at a limekiln. Out of 9s. a week he saved enough to buy a large blank paper book from a Mr. Henson of Market to be filled with his poems. In the autumn of 1817 he fell in love with Martha Turner, a pretty girl of eighteen. Her parents, who were 'cottage farmers,' objected to Clare's poverty, and his suit languished. Towards the end of the year he got Mr. Henson to print a prospectus for a collection for a collection of 'Oriental Trifles by John Clare.' A ‘Sonnet to the Setting Sun' was added as a specimen. Henson at last agreed to print the volume if a hundred subscribers could be obtained and 10l. advanced. That was impossible. Clare was soon discharged by his employer for wasting his time in scribbling; his parents had become paupers, and he had himself to apply for relief to the parish. Only seven subscribers were obtained for his book. Clare, almost in despair, thought of leaving his home to seek for work. Meanwhile, in the spring of 1819 Mr. Drury, a bookseller of Stamford, saw a letter written by Clare to a Mr. Thompson, his predecessor in business. The note was wrapped ‘in a halfsheet of dirty foolscap paper, on which was penned “The Setting Sun." Drury thought highly of the poem; showed it to Mr. R. Newcomb, proprietor of the ‘Stamford Mercury;’ went with Newcomb two days later to Helpstone to visit Clare, and suggested the publication of a volume of Clare’s poems. Drury was at first discouraged by some unfavourable criticisms, but he placed the poems before John Taylor (of the firm of Taylor & Hessey), who saw merit in them and decided to publish them. Taylor went to Stamford and saw Clare at the house of [q.v.], then residing at Stamford. Gilchrist, by Taylor’s desire, wrote an account of the interview for the first number of the ‘London Magazine’ (January 1820), which in 1821 passed into the hands of Taylor & Hessey. Clare had now found employment, and during 1819 received good advice and substantial help from Drury. The volume called ‘Poems, descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery, by John Clare, a Northamptonshire peasant,' was published 16 Jan. 1821, and at once succeed. Clare was praised by all the reviewers, the ‘Quarterly,' of May 1820, in an article written by his friend Gilchrist, with additions by Gifford, confirming the general verdict. His poems were recited by Madame Vestris at Covent Garden, and one of them was set to music by Rossini. Lord Fitzwilliam and his son, Lord Melton, asked him to Melt on Park, and the Marquis of Exeter gave him an annuity of 15l. 15s. for life. At these grand houses he dined in the servants' halls. Clare now married Martha Turner (16 March 1820). Their first child was born a month later, and it seems that Clare's fidelity had wavered and been only confirmed 