UEXRY Kir.KE WHITE. XXX VU 



offers of many of my friends. I shall not even need the 

 sum Mr Simeon mentioned, after the first year ; and it 

 is not impossible that I may be able to live without any 

 assistance at all. I confess I feel pleasure at the thought 

 of this, not through any vain pride of independence, but 

 because I shall then give a more unbiassed testimony to 

 the truth, than if I were supposed to be bound to it by 

 any ties of obligation or gratitude. I shall always feel 

 as much indebted for intended as for actually afforded 

 assistance ; and though I should never think a sense of 

 thankfulness an oppressive burthen, yet I shall be happy 

 to evince it, when in the eyes of the world the obligation 

 to it has been discharged." Never, perh-aps, had any 

 young man, in so short a time, excited such expectations ; 

 every University honour was thought to be within his 

 reach ; he was set down as a medallist, and expected to 

 take a senior wrangler's degree ; but these expectations 

 were poison to him ; they go-aded him to fresh exertions 

 when his strength was spent. His situation became truly 

 piiserable : to his brother, and to his mother, he wrote 

 idways that he had relaxed in his studies, and that he 

 was better ; always holding out to them his hopes, and 

 his good fortune : but to the most intimate of his friends, 

 (Mr Maddock), his letters told a different tale: to him 

 he complained of dreadful palpitations — of nights of 

 sleeplessness and horror, and of spirits depressed to the 

 very depth of wretchedness, so that he went from one 

 acquaintance to another, imploring society, even as a 

 starving beggar intreats for food. During the course of 

 this summer, it was expected that the Mastership of the 

 Free-School at Nottingham would shortly b-ecome vacant. 

 A relation of his family was at that time mayor of the 

 town ; he suggested to them what an advantageous situa- 

 tion it would be for Henry, and offered to secure for him 

 the necessary interest. But though the salary and emolu- 

 ments are estimated at from £400 to £600 per annum, 

 Henry declined the offer ; because, had he accepted it, 

 it would have frustrated his intentions with respect to 

 the ministry. This was certainly no common act of 

 forbearance in one so situated as to fortune, especially as 



