gratitude. What other impression could be excited, when so consummate a mind, who, instead of superciliously regarding one who had no return to make, but was merely the recipient of his intellectual communications, on every practicable occasion, endeavoured to enlarge his views, and augment his defective stock of information?

In this earlier, and most important period of my life, I derived from John Henderson's society, with which I was extensively favoured, incalculable benefits. The element, in which he moved, was sentient and elevating; equally combining moral action, and christian sentiment. On one occasion, I possessed the privilege of spending a fortnight at Hanham, with him, and his enlightened father. On this, as well as when other opportunities occurred, he sedulously endeavoured to confirm, what already prevailed, my passion for reading; lending me books;* regulating my judgment; and resolving my occasional difficulties. Upon general criticism, style, and composition, both in prose and verse, he, also, often descanted; on which subjects, throughout their whole gradations, he possessed a lucid power of discrimination, combined with an exquisite taste. He regretted that I had not (like my brother,) received a classical education, and encouraged me to

* In an unbending season, John Henderson would sometimes condescend to pun, but then his puns were good.

On one occasion, in looking out some books, for the purpose of borrowing from his extensive library, (a privilege with which I was indulged,) amongst the rest, I fixed on "Glanville on Witches," and, having noticed the different theories on the subject of the "WITCH OF ENDOR," I said to John Henderson, on returning the book, "Pray, Sir, what is your view of this subject " "Joe," said he, "you could not have applied to a better person, for, I am Hender-son."

compensate for that loss, by availing myself of such helps as were still within my power; particularly, by the perusal of standard works; and it is casually mentioned, for the encouragement of other young persons, that, (in a great degree, from the influence thus early superinduced on a mind, naturally ardent in its pursuits,) I had read, before the age of twenty-one, more than a thousand volumes of the best English literature.

The generous pains thus taken with a youth, between whom, and himself, there could be no reciprocation, were followed with one remote consequence, not in the least calculated upon they tended, in some measure, to form a mind, and, thereby, qualify a pen, to record the virtues, and commemorate the talents of a man, who was universally regarded, by his friends, as presenting the highest conceivable exemplification of human attainments. John Henderson died before I was nineteen. The evening prior to his leaving Bristol, for Oxford, where he soon after bade adieu to time! I sat up with him, till three o'clock in the morning, unconscious of the waning hour, from the flow of his animated conversation.

It may be remarked, that, in those instances where eminent individuals have left no writings, to furnish a true standard of their minds, as in the case of Barretier, and John Henderson, &c. the only estimate which can be formed of them, must be derived through the sentiments of others. It has been stated that Dean Tucker declared, that," when he was in the company of John Henderson, he considered himself as a student in the presence of his tutor." Other high testimonies have also been given; the number of which might be augmented, but I shall restrict myself to one other character of this great man, expressed by the late Edmund Rack, Esq.; a gentleman

possessed of much general knowledge, and antiquarian research, and whose materials for the "History of Somersetshire," formed the acknowledged basis of Collinson's valuable "History" of that county. Mr. Rack thus expressed himself, in writing to a friend in London.

"My friend, Henderson, has lately paid me a visit, and stayed with me three weeks. I never spent a three weeks so happily, or so profitably. He is the only person I ever knew who seems to be a complete master of every subject in literature, arts, sciences, natural philosophy, divinity; and of all the books, ancient and modern, that engage the attention of the learned; but it is still more wonderful, that at the age of twelve, he should have been master of the Latin and Greek; to which he subsequently added, the Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, German, Persian, and Syriac languages; and also, all the ancient rabbinical learning of the Jews, and the divinity of the Fathers: this was, however, the The learned DR. KENNICOTT told me, four years since, 'That the greatest men he ever knew were mere CHILDREN, compared to HENDERSON.' In company he is ever new. You never hear a repetition of what he has said before. His fund of knowledge is inexhaustible: his memory never fails, and (through his knowledge of physiognomy,) he enters into all minds he is with, and reads their thoughts, as easily as their features."

case.

Dr. Kennicott, (before whom nothing superficial could have stood for a moment,) died in the year 1783, and John Henderson, at the time Dr. K. passed on him this eulogium, could have been only twenty-three years of age!

(It may be satisfactory to the reader to be informed, that the Portrait prefixed to this Essay, is as complete a likeness, (taken at the age of twenty-five, as

was ever effected by the combined skill of painter and engraver.)

I cannot here withhold one circumstance connected with John Henderson, which, in some minds, will excite an interest. He was an only child. His mother loved him beyond the power of language to express, and, in return, she was loved by her son, with an intensity of affection which filial regard never surpassed. She died when he was young, and her name, through life, was never uttered by him without a tear. She was buried at St. George's, Kingswood, two miles from Bristol, in the direct road to Hanham; and when arrived at man's estate, John Henderson once told me, in a confidential moment, that, in the summer months, when returning of an evening, from Bristol to his home, he has often repaired to the churchyard, and lain all night on his mother's grave!

-

Sorrow I have often seen, sometimes felt it, but such unutterable anguish of spirit I never witnessed, as the father, Mr. Richard Henderson, displayed when the tidings arrived that his son was dead!' The event accelerated at least his own death, which occurred soon after; and the mortal remains of these three honoured vestiges of departed worth, now have blended their dust, and repose in the full and certain hope of a joyful resurrection.

My late brother Amos wrote the following Epitaph, which is engraved on the tomb-stone.

Sculptor! forbear! nor seek the chisel's aid
To add a mole-hill to a mount of fame;
Say, humble stone, here HENDERSON is laid,
And bear the best of epitaphs, his name.

ESSAY II.

ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR OF CHRISTIANITY,

DEDUCED FROM

THE SIZE OF THE BIBLE.*

WHEN an uninspired man undertakes to write an important history, entering often into detail, of incident, description, and delineation, the work necessarily becomes extended. But, when mighty events are recorded; the rise and fall of states; the lives of warriors and kings; the principles that regulated their conduct; the aggressions of neighbouring potentates; with all the results and changes which arose from conquest or subjugation; the boldest reader is appalled at the probable accumulation of pages. If the writer has to describe also his own country and ancestors, under all the impressions of personal and national feeling, the temptation to amplify becomes still more imperative: and to what a magnitude might a work be supposed to extend, which was to comprise the labours, not only of two or three such writers, but a long succession of them, through many genera

tions?

Now the Bible is this extraordinary work, and

* A few years ago, in accompanying Dr, Chalmers on a visit to the most distinguished of Living Females, I observed, as we rode along, that my mind had latterly been impressed with two confirmations of the truth of Christianity, one of which, if noticed, had not been reasoned upon, while the other was unconditionally new. The first was " On the Size of the Bible," and the second, "On our Saviour, Jesus Christ, having left no Writings." I then stated, generally, my illustrations, with which Dr. C. appeared to be struck. This induced me to urge him to give the subject his powerful consideration, which, however, to my great regret, he declined, and expressed a wish, as the thoughts had occurred to me, that I would throw my views into a permanent form. The two following Essays thus originated.