William Johi Chute, Esq. 79 



of oaks near his kennel, and tell them that it was his 

 * picture gallery/ 



But though Mr. Chute might be defective in these 

 points, yet was he eminently successful, and that 

 without effort or design on his part, in winning the 

 affection of all who knew him. It was not what he 

 did, but what he was, which secured this success to 

 him. He was the very personification of cheerfulness 

 and friendliness. No one ever saw him out of temper, 

 out of patience, or out of spirits. No one ever heard 

 him utter an ill-natured remark, or a coarse expression. 

 If there was little in his talents or his tone of mind to 

 command admiration, yet was there much to attach, 

 and nothing to be afraid of. Accordingly he was re- 

 garded with an affection which grew in proportion as 

 he was longer or better known. The servant who 

 took undue liberties with him when alive, was miser- 

 able at his death ; and the agony of grief shown by 

 his brother at his funeral was the most terrible thing- 

 of the kind that I ever witnessed, and recalled to my 

 mind Scott's observation in Marmion, how fearful a 



thing it is, 



When 

 We see the tears of bearded men. 



NOTE. 



The Vyne (or Vine, for it has been spelt each way at dif- 

 ferent times) appears to have been the habitation of man 

 before the commencement of English history. Its vicinity to 

 Silchester, and its position near the great road leading from 

 that station to Winchester, could scarcely fail to bring it 

 early under the notice of the Romans ; and accordingly tra- 

 dition says that it was one of the places where they attempted 

 to introduce the culture of the Vine under the sunless skies of 



