
336 
his mind, he difplayed an early prepenfity for 
vice, and continued through life the flave to 
uncontrolled and libidinous paffion. Perhaps 
we might plead in excufe, that he was formed 
with a fenfibility peculiarly fine, and paffions 
eafily excited; and, being of a gay, focial 
difpofition, he could not, after he had emerged 
from the overwhelming obfcurity which 
clouded his young years, collect fufficient 
ftrength of mind to combat the temptations 
which accident threw in his way 3 but, like 
the unhappy and ill-fated Burns, fullied the 
gifts of his Creator by intemperance and de- 
bauchery; and, at length, fell a facrifice to 
unlimited indulgence. 
Mr. Howard’s parents being too poor to 
put him to fchool, the tafk of inftruétion de- 
volved upon shimfelf; and fo ardent was he 
in the purfuit of knowledge, that the pro- 
grefs he made through the common paths 
of learning, to the moft abftrufe and fcien- 
tific parts of mathematics, was truly amaz- 
ing. As Mr. Howard ‘advanced in life, 
his proficiency in the mathematics made him 
generally efteemed and admired. ' He now 
threw off the mechanical profeffion to which 
he had been apprenticed, and commenced 
fchoolmafter in a little village near Carlifle. 
As he advanced, he increafed his reputation, 
and eftabliihed himfelf in this city, where 
his affiduity, his abilities, and his love of 
learning, made him univerfally refpe&ted. In 
this fitustion, his talents attraéted the notice 
of Dr. Law, Bifhop of Elphin, then a Pre- 
hendary of Carlifle. By him he was taken to 
Treland, where he refided during four years. 
He afterwards returned to Carlifle in the year 
7785, and commenced fchoolmafter a fecond 
tine. 
When refident there, he enjoyed an exten- 
five acquaintance, and was generally refpected 
for his abilities as a {choolmafter, in which 
capacity his lofs will be long regretted, as the 
pupils who ftudied under him have manifefted 
a proficiency in mathematical ftudies, and a 
love of elegant literature, that reflect the 
higheft honour on their maker. From him 
they imbibed that love of letters, and relih 
for fcience, which are at all times the moft 
Yaudable purfuits of human life. Nor were 
his profeffional talents his only qualification : 
after his avocations were finifhed, he was gee 
nerally a welcome gueit in thafe evening cir- 
cles of relaxation, 
Thofe calmretreats, where, temperately gay, 
So oft have fied the ev’ning hours away 3 
Where unambitious minds, congenial, fteer 
From grave to gay, from lively to fevere 5 
where each, unbending from care, is difpofed 
to relith the hearty laugh and the harmlefs 
joke—to which he contributed an ample 
thare. His wit was genuine and poignant, 
- and he was fortunate in the occafional fallies 
te made, which were generally innocent, 
end tended much to exhilarate ‘the jocund 
vircles that furrounded him. Re as 
He continued at Carlife till the year 1794, 
Biographical Notice of Mr. Howard. 
[ May 
when he removed to Newcafile, where hi 
abilities were amply noticed. There he re- 
mained till his conftitution began to fhew the 
effects of long continued habits of intempe- 
rance; and he probably, too late, faw the 
fallacy and the wickednefs of a criminal at- 
tachment to pleafure. In 1798, he pub- 
lifhed *¢ A Treatife on Spherical Geometry ;” 
a work which evinces the ftrength of his 
mind and knowledge in mathematics, and 
which has obtained the approbation of the 
learned. Finding his health rapidly declin- 
ing, he gave up his fchool in Newcaftle, and 
retired to a little village in the neighbour- 
hood, called the Leafes, where, amid the 
filence of folitude, his latter end would be 
embittered by thofe goading refle@tions which 
inevitably arife (and, toamind of fenfibility, 
with double force) on the review of a life 
where talents have been mifapplied and fa- 
cyltics perverted. At this place he clofed his 
life, in the forty-fixth year.of his age, on 
Tuefday, March 26. 
It is not in the power of the writer of this 
article, to do juftice to the abilities or the 
focial qualities of Mr. Howard. Nature 
had bleffed him with a ftrong and mafculine 
underftancing, a mind of fingular energy, 
capacity, and vigour, and a memory that was 
qualified to preferve whatever was valuable 
in the writings of others. Though he had 
fo long devoted himfelf to abftract mathema- 
tical ftudies, his imagination remained lively 
and vivid, and his heart overflowed with a 
keen and ardent fenfibility. ‘To talents of 
the firft order he joined a perfevering and 
fteady induftry, till feduced by the fyren of 
diffipation. This he evinced by the enviable 
proficiency he made in mathematics, which, 
together with his knowledge in the other 
branches of {cience, was achieved ** without 
the ailiftance of the learned,” or ‘* the 
fmiles of the opulent.”—To the cool and lo- 
gical niceties of the mathematician, he united 
their oppofite qualities, the fire and enthu- 
fiafm of the poet. The produ€tions of his 
mufe, if not charatterifed by any extraor- 
dinary energy, or lofty flights of imagination, 
poffefs fingular traits of pathos, nature, and 
fimplicity. They were generally the prompt 
ebullitions of firft impreffions, and produced 
upon temporary fubjects. Some of thefe, 
which were fongs, he fang himfelf with 
great humour. 
To thefe talents were joined focial qualities 
of the firt eminence—a brilliant and ready 
wit, that found in every objedt and circum- 
ftance of life fubjeét for mirth and gaiety. 
While impartial biography muft condemn 
thofe intemperate orgies which are fo dif- 
graceful to men 3 we muft acknowledge that 
the mirth, good humour, and facetioufnefs, 
which were fo alive in’ Howard, have often 
charmed and delighted us; and it is witha 
fincere affection we pay this feeble tribute to 
hismemory. Knowing well the depth of his 
mind, and extent of his talents, we regret 
the more that he was ever allured from the 
a paths 
