LITE OF 



my respectability. It represents me actually as a 6 ggir^ 

 going about gathering money to put myself at college, 

 when my book is worthless ; and this with every ap- 

 pearance of candour. They have been sadly misin- 

 formed respecting me: this review goes before me 

 wherever I turn my steps ; it haunts me incessantly, 

 and I am persuaded it is an instrument in the hands of 

 Satan to drive me to distraction. I must leave Not- 

 tingham." 



It is not unworthy of remark, that^this very reviewal, 

 which was designed to crush the hopes of Henry, and 

 suppress his struggling genius, has been, in its conse- 

 quences, the main occasion of bringing his Remains to 

 light, and obtaining for him that fame which assuredly 

 will be his portion. Had it not been for the indigna- 

 tion which I felt at perusing a criticism at once so cruel 

 and so stupid, the little intercourse between Henry and 

 myself would not have taken place ; his papers would 

 probably have remained in oblivion, and his name, in a 

 few years, have been forgotten. 



I have stated that his opinions were, at one time, in- 

 clining towards deism : it needs not to be said on w'lat 

 slight grounds the opinions of a youth must needs be 

 founded : while they are confined to matters of specula- 

 tion, they indicate, whatever their eccentricities, only an 

 active mind ; and it is only when a propensity is mani- 

 fested to such principles as give a sanction to immorality, 

 that they show something wrong at heart. One little 

 poem of Henry's remains, " My Own Character," p. 62, 

 which was written in this unsettled state of mind. It 

 exhibits much of his character, and can excite no feelings 

 towards him, but such as are favourable. 



About this time Mr Pigott, the curate of St Mary's, 

 Nottingham, hearing what was the bent of his religious 

 opinions, sent him, by a friend, Scott's " Force of Truth," 

 and requested him to peruse it attentively, which he pro- 

 mised to do. Having looked at the book, he told the 

 person who brought it to him, that he could soon write 

 an answer to it ; but about a fortnight afterwards, when 

 this friend inquired how far he had proceeded in his 



