HENRY KIRKE WHITE. XXXIU 



ingham, in Lincolnshire, Aad there, notwithstanding all 

 the entreaties of his friends, pursuing the same unrelent- 

 ing course of study, a second illness was the consequence. 

 When he was recovering, he was prevailed upon to relax, 

 to ride on horseback, and to drink wine ; these latter 

 remedies he could not long afford, and he would not allow 

 himself time for relaxation when he did not feel its im- 

 mediate necessity. He frequently, at this time, studied 

 fourteen hours a day : the progress which he made in 

 twelve months was indeed astonishing : when he went to 

 Cambridge he was immediately as much distinguished for 

 his classical knowledge as his genius : but the seeds of 

 death were in him, and the place to which he had so long 

 looked on with hope, served unhappily as a hot-house to 

 ripen them.* 



During his first term, one of the University Scholar- 

 ships became vacant, and Henry, young as he was in 

 college, and almost self-taught, was advised by those who 

 were best able to estimate his chance of succesv=?, to offer 

 himself as a competitor for it. He passed the whole term 

 in preparing himself for this, reading for college subjects 

 in bed, in his walks, or, as he says, where, when, and how 

 he could, never having a moment to spare, and often 

 going to his tutor without having read at all. His 

 strength sunk under this, and though he had declared 

 himself a candidate, he w^as compelled to decline ; but 

 this was not the only misfortune. The general college 

 examination came on ; he was utterly unprepared to meet 

 it, and believed that a failure here would have ruined his 

 prospects for ever. He had only about a fortnight to 

 read what other men had been the whole term reading. 

 Once more he exerted himself beyond what his shattered 

 health could bear ; the disorder returned, and he went 



* During his residence in my family, says Mr Grainger, his conduct 

 was highly becoming, and suitable to a Christian profession. He was 

 mildand inoffensive, modest, unassuming, and affectionate. He attend- 

 ed, with great cheerfulness, a Sunday-school which I was endeavouring 

 to establish in the village., and was at considerable pains in the instruc- 

 tion of the children ; and I have repeatedly observed that he was most 

 pleased and most edified with such of my sermons and addresses to any 

 people, as were most close, plain, and familiar. Wlien we parted, we 

 parted with mutual regret ; and by us his name will long be remem- 

 bered with affection and delight. 



