1819.] the late Mr. Thomas Henry. 175 



native strength of his memory, unassisted by any artificial 

 arrangement, a knowledge of history, remarkable for its extent 

 and precision ; and he was always eager to discuss those ques- 

 tions of general policy which are to be decided partly by an 

 appeal to historical evidence, and partly by a consideration of 

 the nature of man, and of his claims and duties as a member of 

 society. No representation of him would indeed be complete 

 that failed to notice the animation with which he entered into 

 arguments of this kind, or the zeal and constancy with which he 

 defended his political opinions — opinions which, in him, were 

 perfectly disinterested and sincere, but which perhaps disposed 

 him to allow more than its due weight to the aristocratical part 

 of our mixed government. It would be unjust to him, however, 

 not to state, that no man could more cordially disapprove, or 

 more unreservedly condemn, eveiy unwarrantable exertion of 

 power ; or could more fervently desire the extension of the bless- 

 ings of temperate freedom to all mankind. It was this feeling 

 that led him to use his strenuous exertions as a member of one 

 of the earliest societies for procuring the abolition of the African 

 Slave Trade ; and when that great object was at length accom- 

 plished, he was affected with the most lively joy and gratitude 

 on the downfal of a traffic which had Ions; been a disgraceful 

 stain q a our national character. 



Of 1; is moral excellencies there can be no inducement to offer 

 an ovel charged picture to a Society by many of whose surviving 

 membe s he was intimately known and justly appreciated. 

 Foremc ;t among the qualities of his heart was a warmth of gene- 

 rous en. >tion which evinced itself in an enthusiastic admiration 

 of virtut ; in an indignant disdain and unqualified reprobation of 

 vice, oj. uession, or meanness ; and in the prompt and unre- 

 strained exercise of the social affections. In temper, he was 

 frank, cc .fiding, and capable of strong and lasting attachments* 

 quick, it lust be acknowledged, in his resentments ; but remark- 

 ably plac ble and anxious whenever he thought he had inflicted 

 a wound :> heal it by redoubled kindness. No man could be 

 more fret from all stain of selfishness ; more moderate in his 

 desire of \ orldly success ; or more under the influence of habi- 

 tual conte\ ment. This was in a great measure the result of his 

 having eaW weighed the comparative value of the different 

 objects ofl) e, and of his steady and consistent pursuit of know- 

 ledge and v^tue, as the primary ends of an intelligent being. 



In very advanced age, though his body was enfeebled, his 

 mind retained much of that wholesome elasticity and vigour 

 which always belonged to it. He was still enabled, by the 

 almost perfect preservation of his sight, to spend a great portion 

 of every day in reading ; but at this period he derived greater 

 pleasure from works of literature than from those of science, and 

 especially from his favourite study of history. During the winter 

 immediately preceding his death, beside several standard histo- 

 rical works, he read with avidity one which had been recently 



