In 1740 he stood first in the list of the scholars to be received in
succession at New College, but unhappily there was no vacancy. He
became a Commoner of Queen's College, probably with a scanty
maintenance; but was, in about half a year, elected a Demy of
Magdalen College, where he continued till he had taken a Bachelor's
degree, and then suddenly left the University; for what reason I
know not that he told.

He now (about 1744) came to London a literary adventurer, with many
projects in his head, and very little money in his pocket. He
designed many works; but his great fault was irresolution; or the
frequent calls of immediate necessity broke his scheme, and suffered
him to pursue no settled purpose. A man doubtful of his dinner, or
trembling at a creditor, is not much disposed to abstracted
meditation or remote inquiries. He published proposals for a
"History of the Revival of Learning;" and I have heard him speak
with great kindness of Leo X., and with keen resentment of his
tasteless successor. But probably not a page of his history was
ever written. He planned several tragedies, but he only planned
them. He wrote now and then odes and other poems, and did
something, however little. About this time I fell into his company.
His appearance was decent and manly; his knowledge considerable, his
views extensive, his conversation elegant, and his disposition
cheerful. By degrees I gained his confidence; and one day was
admitted to him when he was immured by a bailiff that was prowling
in the street. On this occasion recourse was had to the
booksellers, who, on the credit of a translation of Aristotle's
"Poetics," which he engaged to write with a large commentary,
advanced as much money as enabled him to escape into the country.
He showed me the guineas safe in his hand. Soon afterwards his