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him; and they will find in him an example of hopes, with regard to worldly fortune, as humble; and as exalted in all better things, as are enjoined equally by wisdom and religion, by the experience of man, and the word of God. And this example will be as encouraging as it is excellent. It has been too much the custom to complain that genius is neglected, and to blame the public when the public is not in fault. They who are thus lamented as the victims of genius, have been, in almost every instance, the victims of their own vices; while genius has been made, like charity, to cover a multitude of sins, and to excuse that which in reality it aggravates. In this age, and in this country, whoever deserves encouragement, is, sooner or later, sure to receive it. Of this Henry's history is an honourable proof. The particular patronage which he accepted, was given as much to his piety and religious opinions, as to his genius: but assistance was offered him from other quarters. Mr. P. Thomson, (of Boston, Lincolnshire), merely upon perusing his little volume, wrote to know how he could serve him; and there were many friends of literature who were ready to have afforded him any support which he needed, if he had not been thus provided. In the University he received every encouragement which he merited, and from Mr. Simeon, and his tutor Mr. Catton, the most fatherly kindness.

"I can venture," says a Lady of Cambridge, in a letter to his brother, "I can venture to say, with certainty, there was no member of the University, however high his

rank or talents, who would not have been happy to have availed themselves of the opportunity of being acquaint

ed with Mr. Henry Kirke White. I mention this to introduce a wish, which has been expressed to me so often by the senior members of the University, that I dare not decline the task they have imposed upon me; it is their hope that Mr. Southey will do as much justice to Mr. Henry White's limited wishes, to his unassuming pretensions, and to his rational and fervent piety, as to his various acquirements, his polished taste, his poetical fancy, his undeviating principles, and the excellence of his moral character; and that he will suffer it to be understood that these inestimable qualities had not been unobserved, nor would they have remained unacknow ledged. It was the general observation, that he posses sed genius without its eccentricities."

Of his fervent piety, his letters, his prayers, and his hymns, will afford ample and interesting proofs. I must be permitted to say, that my own views of the religion of Christ Jesus differ essentially from the system of belief which he had adopted; but, having said this, it is, indeed, my anxious wish to do full justice to piety so fervent. It was in him a living and quickening principle of goodness, which sanctified all his hopes, and all his affections; which made him keep watch over his own heart, and enabled him to correct the few symptoms, which it ever displayed, of human imperfection.

His temper had been irritable in his younger days, but

this he had long since effectually overcome: the marks of youthful confidence, which appear in his earliest letters, had also disappeared, and it was impossible for man to be more tenderly patient of the faults of others, more uniformly meek, or more unaffectedly humble. He seldom discovered any sportiveness of imagination, though he would very ably, and pleasantly, rally any one of his friends for any little peculiarity; his conversation was always sober, and to the purpose. That which is most remarkable in him, is his uniform good sense, a faculty perhaps less common than genius. There never existed a more dutiful son, a more affectionate brother, a warmer friend, nor a devouter christian. Of his powers of mind it is superfluous to speak; they were acknow*ledged wherever they were known. It would be idle too to say what hopes were entertained of him, and what he might have accomplished in literature. These volumes contain what he has left, immature buds, and blossoms shaken from the tree, and green fruit; yet will they evince what the harvest would have been, and secure for him that remembrance upon earth for which he toiled.

"Thou soul of God's best earthly mould,
Thou happy soul! and can it be,

That these

Are all that must remain of thee!"

Wordsworth.

LETTERS,

&c.

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