My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

CHAPTER IXLIFE AT LEICESTER AND NEATHAs I came of age in January, 1844, ^^^ there wasnothing doing at Neath, I left my brother about themiddle of December so as to spend the Christmaswith my mother and sister at Hoddesdon, after whichI returned to London, sharing my brother John'slodging till I could find some employment. At thattime the tithe-commutation surveys were nearly allcompleted, and the rush of railway work had notbegun : surveying was consequently very slack. Asmy brother William, who had a large acquaintanceamong surveyors and engineers all over the south ofEngland, could not find employment, except somevery small local business, I felt it to be quite uselessfor me to seek for similar work. I therefore determinedto try for some post in a school to teachEnglish, surveying, elementary drawing, etc. Throughsome school agency I heard of two vacancies thatmight possibly suit. The first required, in additionto English, junior Latin and algebra. I applied forthis, but failed to obtain the appointment, as neithermy Latin nor my algebra was up to the requiredstandard.My next attempt was more hopeful, as drawing,surveying, and mapping were required. On this occasionI met a clergyman, a young man, easy and