[ 1G ] [JAN. 



WILLIAM ROSCOE, ESQ. 



WITH A PORTRAIT. 



OUR last Number contained a brief memoir of the distinguished indi- 

 vidual whose portrait is here presented ; distinguished, in many senses, 

 by genius and by worth. Mr. Roscoe was one of the few who, by the 

 intuitive impulse of the " inspiration that works within/' step at once 

 out of the ranks of life, and take their station in the front. Unaided by 

 friends or education, he carved out his own fortune, and became philo- 

 sopher, poet, and historian. It was his rare and happy destiny to acquire 

 and retain, during a long life, the good-will of all who knew him. It has 

 been said of him, " he was everywhere, at home and abroad, loved and 

 admired ; and he died, as he lived, without an enemy/' 



In a beautiful volume of prints, which has just made its appearance, 

 Mve find " a view of the house in which Mr. Roscoe was born." The 

 view, which is as pretty and picturesque a representation of " an Eng- 

 lish farm-house roof" as can be imagined, comes recommended to us by 

 a poetical illustration, by L. E. L. It opens by dwelling upon the train 

 of thought to which similar humble habitations give rise, and terminates 

 with a ramble over the fairy scenes of Italy identified as they are with 

 Mr. Roscoe's name : 



" Yet here the mind's-eye pictures other scenes ; 



A fair Italian city in a vale, 



The sanctuary of summer, where the air 



Grows sweet in passing over myrtle groves ; 



Glides the blue Arno, in whose 'tide are glassed 



Armed palaces with marble battlements. 



Forth ride a band of princely chivalry, 



And at their head a gallant chieftain he 



Lorenzo, the magnificent. 



Within this house was thy historian born, 



Florence, thou pictured city ; and his name 



Calls up thy rich romance of history ; 



And this calm English dwelling fills the mind 



With memories of Medici." 



To this we subjoin a Sonnet from a correspondent : 



TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. 



Noble among the best ! and of the few 



On whom bright Truth smiles gracious at their birth 



One of the chief thy nobleness and worth 



Were clear as summer skies thy thoughts as dew 



From which the morning in its freshness springs. 



Good man and great ! the spirit of earlier days 



Lived in thy heart, and in thy eloquent lays 



Spoke of all moving and all glorious things. 



Humanity and Freedom gave thee themes, 



Unclasping for thy use their golden tomes ; 



And ever, in thy vows and waking dreams, 



They made upon the bettered earth their homes. 



Farewell ! farewell ! thy epitaph may be, 



That England hath no worthier son than thee ! 



