A lean, tallish, loose-made boy of twelve; strange alacrity, rapidity and joyous eagerness looking out of his eyes, and of all his ways and movements.
I have a Picture of him at this stage; a little portrait, which carries its verification with it.

In manhood too, the chief expression of his eyes and physiognomy was what I might call alacrity, cheerful rapidity.
You could see, here looked forth a soul which was winged; which dwelt in hope and action, not in hesitation or fear.

Anthony says, he was "an affectionate and gallant kind of boy, adventurous and generous, daring to a singular degree." Apt enough withal to be "petulant now and then;" on the whole, "very self-willed;" doubtless not a little discursive in his thoughts and ways, and "difficult to manage." I rather think Anthony, as the steadier, more substantial boy, was the Mother's favorite; and that John, though the quicker and cleverer, perhaps cost her many anxieties.

Among the Papers given me, is an old browned half-sheet in stiff school hand, unpunctuated, occasionally ill spelt,--John Sterling's earliest remaining Letter,--which gives record of a crowning escapade of his, the first and the last of its kind; and so may be inserted here.

A very headlong adventure on the boy's part; so hasty and so futile, at once audacious and impracticable; emblematic of much that befell in the history of the man! "_To Mrs.Sterling, Blackheath_.
"21st September, 1818.
"DEAR MAMMA,--I am now at Dover, where I arrived this morning about seven o'clock.