CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL
OF
POPULAR
LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART.

A MARVEL OF ARTISTIC GENIUS.

Coggeshall in Essex is a small market-town,which, in days past was of some slight importanceas a busy little manufacturing place, but which oflater years has been drained of population, likemany another place, to supply material for thegreat 'centres.' It now has little to boast of butits fine church, one of the three finest in thecounty, and some most interesting ruins, wellknown to antiquaries; it takes, however, a greatpride in owning the parentage of the subject ofthis notice.

John Carter was the only son of a respectablelabourer in Coggeshall, but was himself brought upto silk-weaving, that being the staple trade of thetown. He was educated in the usual way at thenational school; but at the age of thirteen wastransferred to Sir R. Hitcham's grammar-school,where he continued about two years. During thisperiod he was chiefly remarkable for his aptitudefor getting into mischief; and the only sign givenof the latent talent which was afterwards sostrangely developed in him was in drawing horsesand dogs of questionable beauty on his slates andcopy-books; the walls of his cottage also were frequentlyput under requisition for the same purpose;a mark of talent which his mother in thosedays could have readily dispensed with, as nottending to improve the look of her humble apartment,which she always kept most scrupulouslyneat and clean. He was a bright intelligent boy,and this and his high spirits made him a generalfavourite, but proved also a great snare to him. Hebecame acquainted with a set of wild young men,and soon, naturally enough, became the ringleaderin all sorts of daring enterprise.

When Carter was about twenty he married; butthough his wife was a quiet and respectable youngwoman, his marriage does not appear to havesteadied him. He and his wild companions usedto meet at one of the public-houses and theretalk over and arrange their operations. One of theprojects which these choice spirits agreed uponwas a rooking expedition, the young rooks beingthen in season. It was in the month of May 1836.The place agreed on was Holfield Grange, therebeing there a fine old avenue

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