MEMOIRS OF MATTHIAS D'AMOUR. CHAP. I. My birth and family.-Danger of being drowned when a boy, and ludicrous consequences. My love of music and dancing, and facilities for learning -The uses which I made of my acquirements Joined a juvenile set of players. Remarks on my Mother's conduct towards me.- A libertine Brother, and his amendment of life. My desire to go to Paris.—Our family jubilee in honour of parents wedding. Solemn leavetaking. "I hold the world, but as the world, Gratiano, I was born at Antwerp, in Belgium, Sept. 14, 1749, in the same street, and within a few doors of the birth-place of the celebrated painter, Rubens. My father's employment was that of a writer in the Antwerp Custom House. I had an uncle for many years in the service of the Spanish Ambassador at Paris. My father and mother had fourteen chil B dren. I was the youngest but one. I cannot say that I recollect many circumstances in connexion with my childhood, which it would be interesting to narrate. As, however, most of the autobiographers with whom I have been acquainted, have had a number of escapes from drowning, strangling, &c. to give to their readers, it may not be amiss to notice one which occurred to myself. It is well known to gazetteer readers that the town of Antwerp is surrounded by an artificial ditch, for the purpose of securing it from military invasion. When I was about eight or nine years old, I was returning one afternoon, in winter, from the suburbs, where I had been attending school, into the city. As I was passing a part of the ditch, which was frozen over at the time, I could not resist a temptation to get down the bank and upon the ice. Making no scruples as to whether it would bear me, I went splash over head into the water; and there being no person within sight or hearing, I had to struggle hard for life. With much ado, I at last managed to lay hold of a tuft of grass, or some similar substance, and thus escaped to terra firma. My fears for my life were no sooner over, than I fell into apprehensions of my Mother's anger on account of the wetness of my clothes. As I proceeded homeward, all dripping with water, and trembling with fear and cold, a scheme occurred to me, of going, if possible, right away to bed. On my arrival at home, fortune favoured me remarkably: the door happened to be open, and I entered and ascended the staircase without being observed. Tak ing off only a part of my clothes, I crept into bed, and there I lay unobserved from about half-past four to eight or nine o'clock. I had the pleasure of hearing much wonder expressed as to what had become of me, but lay still, notwithstanding. When it began to grow late, they became still more alarmed at my absence, and I know not what would have been done next, had not my sister chanced to come up stairs and found me in bed. On her announcing the discovery, my Mother hastened up stairs, apprehending that I must be seriously ill. As she took hold of the bed-clothes, and raised them from my person, at the same time that she questioned me, in order, I suppose, to get the evidence of two or three senses at once, a steam arose from where I lay similar to that which rises from a boiling pot, or a newly filled mash-tub! Alarm now arose to its height, I must be very ill indeed. In the end, I told them a part of the truth, but glossed the account by saying that some boys had pushed me into the water. I caught cold, I remember, as might have been expected; but in a day or two was no worse in any respect. From my childhood I was uncommonly fond of music; and had, I believe, a rather extraordinary ear for the science. What aided me in acquiring practice, was an acquaintance which I formed with an official person in connexion with the theatre. Though I was but a child, this person took to me surprisingly, introducing me as often as I liked (which was nearly every night during the season) to a seat among the musicians. The music, instru mental and vocal, along with the dancing, quite absorbed my youthful attention. I had a good voice, and presently caught by the ear alone, a number of the most esteemed songs. These I used to repeat at home, and among my young companions in other places; not confining myself to singing within doors, but often, when we happened to be at play in a retired corner of a back street, or other similar situation, I have given my comrades a specimen of my vocal melody, making the surrounding places echo with my treble pipes; till, by the throwing open of numerous windows, and the gathering of a crowd of by-standers, our child's play would be turned into a general entertainment. On one occasion, I recollect, when I had been. exercising myself in my best style, I was accosted by a servant in livery, who asked me to accompany him into a house hard by. His master, who had himself ordered the servant to bring me to him, was one of the Superior Canons of the Cathedral; he asked me various questions as to my parents, &c. and, after further trial of my abilities, would fain have persuaded me to become one of the choristers of the Cathedral. But, notwithstanding his giving me to understand that I should have victuals, and clothing, and every thing necessary provided for me without the aid of my parents, I steadfastly refused the offer; neither did I ever mention the circumstance to either my Father or Mother, for fear they should have wanted me to go. After this circumstance, my fame as a singer became more generally known. I was frequently sent for to rich men's |