My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire: I was the third of five sons. He sent me to Emanuel College
in Cambridge at fourteen years old, where I resided three years, and applied myself close to my studies; but the
charge of maintaining me, although I had a very scanty allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune, I was
bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London, with whom I continued four years. My
father now and then sending me small sums of ...