་

HE

L I F E

MR. STERN E,

Principally extracted from a more extensive one,

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

THE

HE author of the annexed pages of fuperlative genius was born at Clonmel in the fouth of Ireland, November the 24th, 1713; his father was a lieutenant in Handafide's regiment, and grandfon to Dr. Richard Sterne, Archbishop of York, who died in 1683. Our Author was born a few days after his father and mother's arrival from Dunkirk-His birth-day, he tells ominous to his poor father, who was, us, was the day after his arrival, with many other brave officers broke, and fent adrift into the wide world with a wife and two children." On his father's being disbanded he removed to his family feat at Elvington, near York, where his mother refided. Here they fojourned for ten months, when the regiment was established, and they all. repaired to Dublin.-Within a month of their arrival, his father was ordered to Exeter, to which place they all followed him In about a

year after we find them in Dublin again. Here his father feemed to entertain fome hopes of refiding fome time, for he took a large house, furnished it, and in a year and half's time spent a great deal of money.

In 1719 the regiment was ordered, with many others, to the Isle of Wight, in order to embark for Spain in the Vigo expedition. Our Author's mother, fifter, and himself, remained at the Isle of Wight during the Vigo expedition, and until the regiment had got back to Wicklow in Ireland, from whence his father fent for them. They embarked for Dublin, and had all been caft away by a most violent form; but through the interceffions of his mother, the captain was prevailed upon to turn back into Wales, where they stayed a month, and at length got into Dublin, and travelled by land to Wicklow, where his father had for fome weeks given them over for loft. They lived in the barracks at Wicklow, one year (one thousand seven hundred and twenty) from thence they decamped to stay half a year with Mr. Fetherstone, a clergyman, about feven miles from Wicklow, who being a relation of Mrs. Sterne's, invited them to his parfonage at Animo.

It was in this parish during their stay, that our author had that wonderful escape in falling through a mill-race whilft the mill was going; and of being taken up unhurt-the story is incre

dible, but known for truth in all that part of Ireland-where hundreds of the common people flocked to fee him.-From hence they followed the regiment to Dublin, where they lay in the barracks a year: in which year, 1721, our author learned to write, &c.-The next year the regiment was ordered to Carrickfergus, in the north of Ireland; but when they arrived at Drogheda, in their route, they were ordered to Mullingar, where by Providence they stumbled upon a kind relation,a collateral defcendant from Archbishop Sterne, who took them all to his castle, and entertained them with cordial hofpitality for a year

and fent them to the regiment at Carrickfergus, loaded with kindneffes. Some short time after our author's father got leave of his Colonel to fix him at fchool-which he did near Hallifax, in Yorkshire, with an able mafter; with whom he ftaid fome time, till by God's care of him his coufin Sterne, of Elvington, became a father to him, and fent him to the university, &c.

Our Author remained at Hallifax till about the latter end of the year 1731. Here he takes occafion to mention the following anecdote of himfelf and fchoolmafter" The ceiling of the "fchool-room was new white-washed-the "ladder remained there-I one unlucky day "mounted it, and wrote with a brush in large capital letters, LAUR. STERNE, for which "the

b 2

"the usher feverely whipped me. My mafter <6 was much hurt at this, and faid, before me, "that never fhould that name be effaced, for I

was a boy of genius, and he was fure I-fhould come to preferment-this expreffion made EC me forget the ftripes I had received."

In the year 1732 his coufin fent him to the univerfity. He was admitted of Jefus College, in the university of Cambridge, 6th of July, 1733, under the tuition of Mr. Cannen.-Matriculated 29th March, 1735. Admitted to the degree of B. A. in January, 1736.-M. A. at the commencement, 1740.-From the university he removed to Fork. His uncle Jaques Sterne, LL.D. who was prebendary of Durham, &c. &c. &c. got him the living of Sutton. At Fork he became acquainted with Mrs. Sterne, who thought herfelf at that time not rich enough, or our author too poor to agree to a union. Some time after, fhe fell into a confumption-and one evening when he was fitting by her with an almost broken heart, fhe faid, " My dear Lawry, I can never be yours, for I verily believe I have not fong to live-but I have left you every fhilling of my fortune;"-upon that the fhewed him her will-which generofity, he fays, overpowered

him.

She recovered, and they were married 1741. His uncle got him the prebendary of York; and through

through his wife's intereft he got the living of Stillington, He refided at Sutton near twenty years, doing duty at both places.

In the year 1760, he took a houfe at York, and immediately after came to London to publish his two first volumes of Shandy: which volumes were published the year before at York. In 1760, Lord Falconbridge prefented him with the curacy of Cox would. In 1762 he went to France, and his family followed him. In two years after he went to Italy for the recovery of his health, and returned in May 1766-He left York about the latter end of the year 1767, and came to London to publish the Sentimental Journey, which he had written the summer before at his favourite living of Coxwould. His Health had been for fome declining, but he continued to visit his friends, and retained his wonted flow of spirits. In February, 1.768, he perceived the approaches of death, and after a short ftruggle with his diforder, his debilitated and worn out frame fubmitted to fate on the 18th day of March 1768,, at his lodgings in Bond-ftreet, and was buried in the most private manner the 22d of the fame month. Thofe who can take the fame delight in vifiting his grave that he took in vifiting his amiable Monk's, and who are fond of that

Sad luxury! to vulgar fouls unknown !

b 3

will