Memoir of Richard Roberts Jones, of Aberdaron: in the county of Carnarvon, in North Wales; exhibiting a remarkable instance of a partial power and cultivation of intellect / [Anon. William Roscoe].

  • Roscoe, William, 1753-1831.
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoir of Richard Roberts Jones, of Aberdaron: in the county of Carnarvon, in North Wales; exhibiting a remarkable instance of a partial power and cultivation of intellect / [Anon. William Roscoe]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    though he may have perused a work with the greatest deliberation and correctness, he seems to be nearly as ignorant of its contents, unless they relate to subjects connected with language, as he was before he began ; of which the following in¬ cident may, perhaps, serve as a sufficient in¬ stance. A distinguished member of the University of Oxford happening to call on one of Richard’s friends, at a time when Richard himself happened to be near at hand, it occurred to his friend, that the literary curiosity of the learned visitor might be gratified by a short interview with a character of such a description. Richard was accordingly in¬ troduced; and, after the first surprise occasioned by his appearance had subsided, and some expla¬ nations had been given as to the nature of his ac¬ quirements, he was asked several questions, both in the French and Italian languages, to which he replied with that readiness and simplicity for which he is remarkable. He was then asked, whe¬ ther he understood Latin and Greek; and having answered in the affirmative, was desired to read a passage in Homer. Richard accordingly thrust his hand into his bosom, and diving down to the residence of the great poet, dragged him from