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that is good and great could he have received, than the honor of 

 thus meeting the saviour of his country and his father's friend? 



Thomas Bancroft, a true scholar and gentleman from Harvard 

 College, aftervi^ards the distinguished Clerk of the Judicial Courts 

 in Essex county, succeeded Mr. Noyes in the Latin Grammar 

 School, and completed Mr. Pickering's preparation for the Uni- 

 versity. In this excellent instructer he found a no less excellent 

 friend, for whom he cherished a high regard. But, though fitted for 

 college by Mr. Bancroft, he was ofl'ered for admission by his father, 

 who took the liveliest delight in his son's character and scholarship, 

 and came from Philadelphia, probably on purpose to enjoy the 

 pleasure of presenting him to the University at Cambridge. After 

 being honorably admitted, in July, 1792, he accompanied his father 

 to Philadelphia, where he passed a happy vacation. 



On leaving his parents to join his class at Cambridge, he did not 

 leave behind him their good influence, which was blended with all 

 his thoughts and feelings, and kept alive by an affectionate and 

 frank correspondence with his father. He found, too, at the Uni- 

 versity a never-failing supply of good counsel from the friendship of 

 his cousin, the Rev, Dr. Clarke of Boston, who took a deep interest 

 in his welfare, and was honored by him as his " oracle." He found 

 also in his teachers and guides — in Willard, Tappan, Pearson, Web- 

 ber, and their associates — men of piety as well as learning, whose 

 whole example and influence pointed to heaven, and led the waj . 



These were distinguished advantages, but not more distinguished 

 than were his fidelity and wisdom in the improvement of them. 

 Dr. Clarke introduces those beautiful " Letters to a Student in the 

 University of Cambridge," which were addressed to him, by allud- 

 ing to other peculiar advantages. " Your superior qualifications," 

 he says, " for admission into the University give you singular ad- 



