Page:Nollekens and His Times, Volume 2.djvu/454

 442 Mr. Mathew asked him what book he had. "It is a Latin one. Sir," replied the interesting little felllow, raising himself by the assistance of his crutches: "I am trying to learn Latin, Sir."—"Indeed!" observed the Divine: "then I will bring you a better book when I come to-morrow;" and from this incident Mr. Mathew continued to notice him, and, as he grew up, became his first and best friend.

When the boy could walk as far as Rathbone-place, (for, in consequence of a weak state of body, it was many years before he could take much exercise,) he was introduced to Mrs. Mathew; who was so kind as to read Homer to him, whilst he made designs on the same table with her at the time she was reading. These were noticed by her friend Mr. Crutchley, of Sunning-hill-park, who gave him a commission to make a set of historical drawings for him in black chalk, consisting of figures nearly two feet in height, which now are in the possession of my worthy friend Dr. Mathew, to whose mother they had been given by Mr. Crutchley, upon his leaving his town-residence in Clarges-street. They are six in number, and the subjects are: —

1. Œdipus conducted by his daughter Antigone to the Temple of the Furies; in which the uncertain step of Œdipus