WILLIAM AUSTIN, JR. I9I 



Whatever may have been his share of what are generally considered 

 brilliant qualities, he possessed in an uncommon degree for one so 

 young, those which the well-disposed and thoughtful usually acquire 

 only with .increasing years and experience. He was most remark- 

 able for the strength of his religious principles, and his constant appU- 

 cation of them in all his actions, even the least important. Many 

 may perhaps be found, who would as readily as he avoid injuring the 

 rights or feelings of another ; but he did not stop here ; those who 

 have not witnessed can hardly realize how active was his benevolence, 

 and how constantly he was devising means to confer obligations, as 

 far as in his power, on all with whom he had any connexion. 



In 1 831, on leaving the University, at which he had been distin- 

 guished, he engaged in the office of instruction, for which he was 

 highly qualified, though not by his talents and acquirements alone. 

 His zealous industry had rendered him a very respectable scholar 

 for his years, yet his efforts were not directed wholly, nor princi- 

 pally to the acquisition of knowledge, but rather to the formation 

 of a pure and elevated character. He was modest, mild, and en- 

 gaging in his manners, and never failed to secure the respect and 

 aff'ection of his pupils, by his kindness to them and becoming re- 

 spect for himself All his qualifications, however, may be inferred 

 from the circumstance that he was recommended and patronized in 

 the undertaking in which he was engaged at the time of his death, 

 by many of the most competent judges in the community. His 

 quiet and serious temper had given the sacred profession in his view 

 more charms than any other. He accordingly joined the Theo- 

 logical School at Cambridge in order to prepare himself for it, but 

 after a short time, being convinced that its duties were incompatible 

 with the bodily complaints to which he was predisposed, he relin- 

 quished the cherished object of his hopes with cheerful submission, 

 and turned to seek some other path in which to make himself hon- 

 ored and useful to society. Two years since, disease laid a heavy, 

 blighting hand upon him ; but, though his friends were never after- 

 wards wholly free from anxiety on his account, no apprehensions of 

 his actual immediate danger were entertained by them. His death 

 fell upon them with awful suddenness. It was finally occasioned by 

 a violent fever, which his broken constitution had not strength to 

 resist. It will be long before the numerous friends he had secured 

 wherever it was his lot to be called, will cease to feel and deplore 

 this great loss to themselves and the community ; — but the remem- 



