240 EXTRACTS FROM THE MEMORANDUM &C. 



orations upon them in the temple of Minerva, he read 

 them, as he himself stated, without having previously 

 warped his judgment by perusing the remarks of Shake- 

 speare's numerous critics, in order that his exposition 

 of the beauties and blemishes of the illustrious poet 

 might be as candid and unprejudiced as possible. I 

 had the great gratification of hearing his first or intro- 

 ductory oration, in this he indeed proved himself fully 

 adequate to the difficult task which he had undertaken ; 

 so full an assemblage has not often been witnessed 

 in the temple of Minerva as was then congregated to 

 hear a discourse which had been expected with delight ; 

 and perhaps no priest ever received more unanimous 

 and continued applause than that which followed the 

 delivery of his oration, and truly it was well merited, 

 for no one could have entered more feelingly into the 

 subject or have abandoned himself more completely to 

 the enthusiasm which it could not fail to inspire than 



C C did on that occasion. 



In his mode of delivery and his conduct during dis- 

 cussion a degree of boldness was apparent which to a 

 superficial observer might indicate too much reliance 

 upon his own powers and judgment, but when it was 

 known that he entered into discussion but seldom, and 

 then only on subjects with which he was conversant, 

 one would be more inclined to consider that he was 

 acting with the confidence of a man who knows the 

 solidity and firmness of the ground on which he stands. 

 Short and cursory as this notice is, it must here ter- 

 minate, for I fear I have already intruded too much 

 upon your space. 



THEOBALD. 



Barnstaple. 



END OF VOLUME THE FIRST. 



Printed and Published by x JW- Hi Atiub^ Buck well St. PLYMOUTH. 



