Thomas Holme of Chapel Hill was his name. On his epitaph it is said "he was deprived of the sense of hearing in his youth, and lived about 58 years without the comfort of hearing one word. He reconciled himself to his misfortune by reading, and useful employment." He died in 1773, "aged 67 years."
From this it is clear that we must not look for the "tall pine" or the "plain blue stone" in Grasmere churchyard! and that the localities as well as the narratives of The Excursion are at times composite.—ED.
[IU] For another reference to the streams in the Grasmere Vale, compare the Lines composed at Grasmere, when Mr. Fox's death was hourly expected (vol. iv. p. 47)—
Loud is the Vale! the Voice is up
With which she speaks when storms are gone,
A mighty unison of streams!
Of all her Voices, One.
[IV] Either Stone Arthur, or Loughrigg. Compare the lines To the Clouds, suggested by their appearance on Nab Scar—
Army of Clouds! ye wingéd Host in troops
Ascending from behind the motionless brow