telligence. Drawing from objects was here continued. They had some experimental lessons in mechanics, and Herbert took to reading a good deal; Rollin's "Ancient History" and many miscellaneous books being gone through. He found, a very varied literature in his father's house. Mr. Spencer, Sr., was Secretary of the Derby Philosophical Society, and also member of a Methodist book-committee. Besides many works of different kinds, there came various periodicals and magazines—the Lancet, the medical quarterlies, Athenæum, Chambers's Journal, volumes of travel, and occasionally graver works. All these he habitually looked into as a boy, picking up medical, mechanical, and various information. Mr. Spencer and his brothers, when they were together, habitually discussed all kinds of questions, political, ethical, religious, and scientific: All were liberal and independent thinkers—radicals when radicalism was unpopular. Both Mr. and Mrs. Spencer were brought up Methodists, but, during his boyhood, the father acquired so strong a repugnance toward the priestliness of the Methodist organization, that he early ceased to attend their services, and went to Quaker meeting—never adopting their peculiarities, but approving their unsacerdotal system. As his mother continued a Methodist, it resulted that on Sunday he went with his father in the morning, and with his mother in the evening. The enforced learning of hymns, and reading of chapters, at this time, produced, a lasting repugnance to Scriptural language.
Mr. Spencer encouraged his son in all kinds of little constructive operations, as carpentering, the making of his own fishing-tackle, etc. Readiness in manipulation was thus cultivated. During this period, Mr. Spencer from time to time had at the house assemblies of his private pupils to witness electrical, mechanical, and air-pump experiments. In these Herbert always assisted, becoming thus familiar with the facts, explanations, and practical manipulations. At the same time he made chemical experiments. He is reported as being much in disgrace as a disobedient boy, always more or less in hot water, which led to desponding anticipations of his future.
At thirteen (1833) he was sent to his uncle, a clergyman, with whom he remained three years. This uncle, the Rev. Thomas Spencer, Rector of Hinton, was a cultivated scholar, who graduated with honors at Cambridge. He was a man of great liberality, advanced in his political views, broad in his theology, and the first clergyman of the Established Church to take a public and prominent part in the movement for the repeal of the corn-laws; having written and published extensively upon the subject. He will be remembered by some as having made a tour through this country some twenty-five years ago, delivering occasional lectures. His uncle was anxious that Herbert should prepare for the university, but he was disinclined to this, and the question was a matter of controversy between them. His uncle, however, lived to acknowledge that Herbert probably took the
