THOMAS ANDREW KNIGHT, ESQ. 45 



resumed his usual occupations, but in a manner from which it 

 was evident, that his chief object was to endeavour to withdraw 

 his mind from a contemplation of his bereavement ; but the plea- 

 sure they had once afforded to him was gone, and the interest 

 he had hitherto taken in all around him, was now converted 

 into a painful source of recollection. 



In a letter to a friend written in the course of the following 

 year he says : 



" I am at present, as I have been for some months, not in a 

 state of mind to attend to, or interest myself about anything. 

 I endeavour all I can to rouse myself into action, and I trust I 

 shall in time succeed ; for I know that I cannot long survive in 

 a state of idleness. 



" I cannot but feel consoled and gratified by the interest 

 taken in the calamity of my family by all classes. My son, if 

 his life had been spared, I am confident would have fully justi- 

 fied the favourable opinion generally entertained of him. As a 

 father, he never gave me pain, except when the ardour of his 

 character, and I may say his absolute love of danger, excited 

 very painful apprehensions in my mind. The ways of Provi- 

 dence are hid from our sight, but the rule by which all is 

 guided is just, and life is at best but an uncertain blessing, and 

 it is perhaps weakness to mourn for the dead." 



To a casual observer a slight appearance of nervous excite- 

 ment was soon the only symptom that indicated the change this 

 blow had made but to those who lived with him, and were 

 anxiously watching the workings of his mind, the fearful strug- 

 gle that was going on within, was painfully apparent : disap- 

 pointment, nevertheless, never, for one moment, had power to 

 sour the sweetness of his temper, and he seemed to be always 

 trying to fill the blank in his heart, by bestowing, if possible, 

 redoubled kindness and affection upon those who were still 

 spared to him. 



It was long before he was like himself again ; and even to the 

 close of his life, though time had done much by its softening 



