Biographical Memoirs of Eminent Persons. 



210; 



health was restored, and finding that in 

 America he was destined for the law, (to 

 which no doubt Mr. Britton's report of his 

 talents also contributed),. Mr. Burdon, struck, 

 in addition, with his quickness and clear 

 understanding, determined to do something 

 more substantial for him. It is singular 

 that this excellent man had once before 

 done a very similar act of kindness to an 

 individual, who repaid him with great in- 

 gratitude, this was the late Hewson Clarke, 

 whom he sent to college at his own expense. 

 It appeared as if Mr. Burdon had deter- 

 mined to experiment on human nature, 

 both in the case of Clarke and Graham, 

 but, fortunately, he did not live to know 

 that both experiments would be alike de- 

 structive of his hopes. 



After telling his protege that literature, 

 though in London, except with a few indi- 

 viduals, even with those who possessed long 

 experience, which he (Graham) did not, 

 was a most precarious, anxious, and labo- 

 rious life ; Mr. Burdon inquired if he was 

 inclined to study English law zealously and 

 indefatigably for that, unless he proposed to 

 do so, the pursuit would be useless, and he 

 could never hope for eminence. This Gra- 

 ham promised faithfully, and his patron im- 

 mediately had more comfortable lodgings 

 taken for him in Margaret Street, Caven- 

 dish Square; and that he might lose no 

 time, he was presented with a most com- 

 plete set of elementary works in the classic 

 languages and law, and ordered to apply 

 closely to study, as a preliminary step, which 

 he did most sedulously. 



The foregoing statement brings up the 

 history of Graham in England to the mid- 

 dle of the year 1814. His patron's next 

 step was to enter him at the Temple, going 

 through the necessary forms, and lodging 

 the hundred pounds usually required as the 

 entrance fee. The advantage of a univer- 

 sity education was so obvious, both in short- 

 ening the time before a candidate for the 

 bar can be called, and with the view to pro- 

 fitable study, that Mr. Burdon observing 

 the close application of Graham, in London, 

 to his books, formed the resolution of send- 

 ing him to Cambridge for three years. This 

 step was looked upon afterwards, by those 

 who had the best opportunities for judging, 

 as the ultimate cause of his ruin. At Cam- 

 bridge he by no means neglected his studies ; 

 and the sum allowed by his patron was more 

 than sufficient for every want, being nearly 

 three hundred a year ; but he contracted an 

 intimacy with young men of wild and dissi- 

 pated habits. He had a portion of that weak 

 vanity which generates the desire of being 

 on an equality with men superior to oneself 

 in birth and fortune, and the ambition of 

 rivalling them in every way within our power. 

 When he obtained a remittance, therefore, 

 from London, he soon found means to 

 squander it in a very short space of time ; 

 having no resource afterwards but to apply 

 to his books, he studied diligently until a 



[FEB. 



fresh payment of his allowance reached him, 

 when he again mingled in the dissipation 

 of the university : and before he left it, 

 acquired the attachment to gaming which 

 ultimately destroyed him. To the very last 

 his habits of study were dependent upon the 

 state of his pocket. Sometimes for weeks 

 together he would work hard, and, having a 

 tenacious memory, stored up nearly all he 

 read or heard. He was so sensible of this 

 himself, that once he requested a friend 

 who was going to pay him a few pounds 

 which he owed him, not to do so, but to 

 keep them a few days, until he had gone 

 through his allotted labour " You know 

 my way," said he, " if I receive it now, I 

 shall go out and do nothing while it lasts." 



Graham left Cambridge, as far as I know, 

 with a character much the same as that of 

 most other young men in respect to morals ; 

 but the seeds of mischief were sown, and 

 taking root. In his general acqviirements, 

 I doubt if any in the university could surpass 

 him ; his reading having been so extended, 

 and his habit of holding fast that which he 

 once acquired being so remarkable. Better 

 Grecians or mathematicians were doubtless at 

 Cambridge, but not one could compete with 

 him in extent and variety of knowledge. 

 But then an education nearly completed in 

 America had given him a wonderful ad- 

 vantage as to the starting place. An Eton 

 boy goes to college with a little Latin and 

 Greek only. The knowledge of the turn- 

 pike road to "Windsor from his paternal 

 residence, and from the latter to the uni- 

 versity, is the extent of his geographical 

 acquirements, and his social knowledge is 

 just as limited, while he knows nothing of 

 modern literature or the sciences. 



It is very possible that Mr. Burdon might 

 have had some small obligations to discharge 

 on Graham's leaving college, but it does not 

 appear that they were of any moment. Dif- 

 ferences at times arose between them. Gra- 

 ham was obstinate, and often showed symp- 

 toms of unaccountable recklessness in respect 

 of his patron's wishes. Still he was a very 

 frequent visitant at his house, where they 

 would sometimes dispute, and Graham would 

 go away in anger, Mr. Burdon telling him 

 to come no more. A few days of absence 

 and reflection generally prompted a letter 

 from Graham, acknowledging his being in 

 the wrong, depicting the very workings of his 

 inmost heart at the time of their difference 

 and subsequently, and deploring the way- 

 wardness of his nature. There was almost 

 to the last a candour about this unhappy 

 young man, which rendered his conduct the 

 more pitiable. To strangers, or general ac- 

 quaintance, who openly censured or thwarted 

 him (when he was conscious he must be in 

 the wrong at the same time), he would op* 

 pose a haughty demeanour, and justify him- 

 self, though he felt he was asserting black 

 was white. His nature in this respect may 

 be seen in the letter he wrote the night be- 

 fore his death. But to those who knew him 



