"The distinguishing qualities (remarks one of his family) of his childhood appear to have been sedateness, steadiness, amiableness, goodness, gentleness, filial and fraternal affection, patience, perseverance, application, love of books, love of public worship, undeviating integrity and sobriety. He never discovered much disposition to play, or to frequent the society of boys; but would resort to the nursery with books, which he read with great eagerness and delight, and was always happy when thus employed. The ceremonies and worship of the Church, at a very early age, engaged his attention; and he would allow nothing to detain him from the sanctuary, when it was in his power to be there. He would never be absent from public catechisings, which always deeply interested him; and on occasion of any of the solemn festivals of the Church, particularly that of Christmas, he expressed an unusual degree of delight, and was always among the first to be present, and assist in ornamenting the Church. It is well remembered that he looked forward to the ministry from his earliest years; and that he had, even in boyhood, a grave and clerical appearance. He used frequently to say of himself, after he was in holy orders, and settled at Newport, that he always wished and intended to be a clergyman. From a boy, he had a serious turn of mind, and a disposition to investigate whatever came within the reach of his observation. And during the year after he graduated, which he passed in the retirement of a country village, he devoted much of his time to the diligent study of the holy scriptures, seeking, by means of frequent and fervent prayer, direction from above, to enable him to "have a right judgment in all things," in order that his principles might be rightly and firmly fixed, before he entered the sacred ministry." At a very early age, in Mr. Carter's school, it is said, "his companions, even those who were some years older than himself, looked up to him as to a superior mind, and he was often called upon by his instructor to assist him

in teaching." At the Boston grammar school, he was under the care of Mr. Hunt, "who expressed an exalted opinion of his talents and scholarship; and was always speaking his praise. One of his school-fellows remembers, that during the seven years he remained at this school, he was invariably at the head of his class; and that when he left the school, at the age of fourteen years, he received the first honour, being appointed to deliver the English oration. The teacher used often to remark that while some of his pupils seemed born for obscurity, Theodore was born for eminence and distinction. 'I always (said he) marked him for a great man; and thought he would arrive at what he did.'" It was noticed, that he did not presume upon his quickness of apprehension, but was unremitted in application, devoting to reading much of that time which is usually given to juvenile sports, determined that the talents which God had given him should not be buried. Admired for his genius and attainments, he seems to have attracted still more attention by that sweetness of disposition, which was stamped on his countenance, and expressed in the tenderest tones, and the most endearing manners. It is said that the parents of Bishop Horne would never permit him to be awakened, when an infant, but by the sound of pleasant music, and that their solicitude laid the foundation of that excellent temper for which he was distinguished. There can be no doubt that, in this respect, nature, parental care, and divine grace, had done much for Bishop Dehon. On hearing him preach, an Englishman exclaimed, "Ah, he reminds me of our good Bishop Horne," and a more intimate inspection of his character would have shown a still greater foundation for the resemblance. Docile and grateful to his instructors, affectionate and generous to his companions, and condescending to inferiors, he was generally beloved. It was remarked now, as it was through life, that he had little taste for those occupations and amusements which fascinate the many;

that he was averse to being in a crowd; that he loved a small, select company, and, in general, a single companion; that home and retirement had special charms in his eyes, though he would never indulge his inclination to the neglect of duty, or of greater usefulness. Such rare excellencies would have been valued anywhere.They could not have been neglected in Boston, eminent as the principal seat of learning in our country, and filled with the patrons of genius. Some minds, in all ages, and in every country, have been lost to society, for want of a discerning and generous patronage,

"For Knowledge, to their eyes, her ample page,

Rich with the spoils of Time, did ne'er enrol;

Chill Penury repress'd their noble rage,

And froze the genial current of the soul."

It is not easy to conceive a charity more valuable and more delightful in its exercise than that which bestows on genius the privileges of education. And thrice happy must those persons have been, who were the honoured instruments of giving to the Church and the country, such a character as that now before us. In his turn, he was a most generous patron, and there can be no doubt that, in the persons of young men similarly situated with himself, he repaid tenfold the bounty which he had received.

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At Harvard University, of which he became a member before he was fifteen years of age, he was distinguished, although among the youngest, as the first scholar in his class. But he had the higher distinction of virtue. was with him (remarked the Rev. Mr.) in the college two years, nor do I believe, during the whole time of his residence there, that he ever did or said a thing, at which he ought to blush." "I often thought (said one of his classmates) while we were at college, that he would be a bishop, he was so grave and dignified." The natural bent of his mind, and a view to his future occupation, led him to attend more particularly to the classics, and the principles of good writing and speaking. It is believed,

"A

that in accuracy of composition, very few under-graduates have ever equalled him. Among his early themes, which the partiality of friends have preserved, it is pleasant to trace many of those sentiments which formed the basis of his character. The first of these, written before he was seventeen years of age, has for its motto, "Friendship in the wine of life." In this essay he maintains the reality of friendship, against those who call it a name, a charm which lulls to sleep, and points out some of its excellencies, and its abuses. The beautiful imagination which he so successfully cultivated, appears here in blossom. virtuous friendship: unpleasant, alas, would be the journey of life, did not this benign sun beautify and enliven each surrounding scene; dispel the 'dim clouds of woe,' which darken the atmosphere of humanity; and expand the buds of unanimity, whose fragrance adds a zest to every enjoyment. The morn of life is beautifully enlivened by the genial warmth of its rays, and when the dusky shades of the evening approach, what can be more desirable than a generous friendship to rock the cradle of reposing' age." At college, and indeed it may be added through life, he assiduously cultivated friendship. He had what many would consider a romantic idea of its high obligations, and he literally loved his friend as his own soul. The friend of his youth whom he survived several years, had in his heart an imperishable monument.

Another of his early essays has for its motto, "Art is long, and life is short," and in this we find a variety of pious reflections. "How, and for what intent came I here? Whither does my existence tend? How shall I, on the theatre of action, do justice to the part allotted me in the drama of life? These are questions, which, as probationers, we ought frequently to apply to ourselves. To be the middle link of being's endless chain,' how important! To discharge the debt of gratitude, which,

*Mr. Francis Channing.

as a dependant being, he owes his benefactor; to perform the affectionate and endearing offices, which, as a brother, he owes mankind; following her in her vast, her varied field, to look through nature up to nature's God; to penetrate the labyrinth of the heart; by expanding, to improve and dignify the faculties of the mind; amidst the allurements to dissipation and the lust of vice, to preserve innocence unspotted and virtue bright; to study the laws of reason; to obey the dictates of humanity; in short, to be an adept in the 'ars recti vioendi,' which, as a man, is his duty and interest: how long, how extensive is the task!" I introduce here a sentiment, which intimates that, even at this early period, he had resolved not to divide his energies among various objects, but to give himself wholly to that one profession which he had deliberately chosen: "The greatest obstruction to our progress in art is this vain aim at perfection in every branch. But how irrational is the desire. If a man should spend his time in learning the alphabets of several, he would have but little knowledge of any language. Even the heavenly luminaries. have each its orbit marked out, in which it moves; and shall man be able to traverse unbounded space? No. Instead of roving through the numerous winding avenues to wisdom's bower, we should select one path for our progression, and in that path steadily persevere." This essay is dated May, 1794. In the following essay we mark that admiration of frankness, and abhorence of dissimulation, by which he was always and eminently distinguished. From his motto, "An honest man is the noblest work of God," he bursts forth into this effusion: "There is a dignity peculiar to the character of an honest man, which commands the respect of brazen faced villainy, and overawes the impudence of vice herself. A greater or more enviable compliment than the short eulogy, he is honest,' fame never paid to any one's reputation. The exploits of the hero, the researches of the philosopher, the wine and oil of the humane, cannot