of his virtues; and to them too it belongs to peruse with delight and admiration the memorials of talents and piety he has left behind him.

His character, I hope I shall be pardoned for saying it, was not fully developed, even to his nearest relations, till his death. Among his papers were found some which contained the plan of his future life, drawn up when he was only seventeen, and containing sentiments and feelings which do the highest honor to his head and heart.

In the period of sickness, he was calm and resigned. Though he undoubtedly must have often suffered, yet so fearful was he of disturbing his friends, that he suppressed the rising emotion, and uttered scarce a groan or a sigh.

The earthly hopes of his friends with respect to him are destroyed; but they are supported by higher and better hopes. They expect to meet him again; and we trust that while they cherish his memory, they will imitate his virtues.

As the hope of man is so often destroyed, as the objects of this world are fading, its blessings uncertain, its pleasures transitory, let us fix our hopes on heaven, and seek, through the merits and mediation of Jesus, to obtain an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not

away.

DIED AT BOSTON, SEPTEMBER 28, 1813, MR. CHARLES ELIOT, AGED 22, ELDEST SON OF SAMUEL ELIOT, ESQ.

THERE are few events in private life more adapted to excite public sympathy than the death of such a young man as Mr. Eliot. He was just entering into life. He had just appeared in that profession to which he had devoted himself. There was every thing in his principles and dis, positions, and every thing in his talents and learning, to give the promise of future usefulness to the world; and every thing in his sincerity, openness, and warmth of feeling, to endear him to his friends. It was at the very time when all their expectations concerning him seemed about to be fulfilled, that these expectations were forever destroyed. It was appointed them to see the lingering waste of his health, to watch the changes of disease, to hope when reason gave no hope, to endeavour to learn from him acquiescence and piety, and at last to feel that shock of separation for which there is nothing can fully prepare us. Such an event is among the most se

vere and awful lessons by which God teaches us the value of those hopes that respect eternity.

If his life had been continued, there are few probably who would have possessed greater power of doing good, and none who would have felt more strongly the obligation to employ this power to the utmost. His notions of duty were far too high and correct for him ever to have considered the gifts of nature or of fortune as the means of selfish indulgence. With an ardor that would have increased with his opportunities for exertion, he often expressed his desire of usefulness -his wish to be one of those by whom society is enlightened and made better. He had spent much time in the study of the Scriptures; and he would have employed his talents and learning in the promotion of that correct knowledge of Christianity, to whose advancement we must principally look for any great improvement in the virtue and happiness of mankind. He would have been one of those by whom the purity of public morals is preserved, who are sensible to all the causes by which it is affected, and who are anxious to prevent its corruption. He had joined that profession in which is to be found a large part of the literary men of New England; and he too, with something of the pride of patriotism, and with a strong interest in the pursuit, would have endeavoured by all the means in his power,

whether by his own exertions, or by assisting those of others, to increase the literature and science of our country. If he had lived to take that station for which he seemed to be destined, he would have been one of those who give its character to society; who guide and direct public opinion and feeling; and whose influence on the moral and intellectual condition of others, is felt far beyond the sphere in which they are person. ally known.

There is a particular propriety in this notice of Mr. Eliot appearing in the present work; for to him this work is indebted in a great degree for its existence, and for much of its value. At its commencement, the present writer, who was then its editor, received from him continual assistance, such as he could expect from no one else, and without which it would have been most difficult for him to have succeeded in the undertaking. There was no office of friendship which he was not solicitous to perform. His first compositions for the public appeared in this work; and he was induced to risk thus early the hazard of public criticism principally by the wish to render the labor of a friend less irksome. During his residence at Cambridge as a theological student, he was interested in every thing where it was in his power to serve the cause of religion or literature. I will only mention, that he was a

principal means in the forming of that plan of study for theological students, whose advantages have since been experienced ;* and that he was particularly interested in suggesting and promoting the plan of the Cambridge edition of that invaluable work, Schleusner's Lexicon, the publication of which will soon commence, The prospectus of it, which has been circulated through the country, was principally prepared by him. I speak of the promise and commencement of usefulness in one to whom the opportunities for doing extensive good, which he might here, after have enjoyed, had not yet been afforded.

The disease of which Mr. Eliot died was lingering; and the chance of recovery was gone long before its termination. There are few

spectacles of higher moral sublimity, than to see one to whom the future had promised so much, calmly and without perturbation waiting the slow approach of death, with a knowledge of its certainty, and with a full apprehension of all that we can know of its nature. This was done by Mr. Eliot. From the flattering appearances in the commencement of his disease, it was some time before either his friends or himself were led to fear that its termination would be fatal. When at last an unfavorable change took place, and in compliance with his constant desire, he was in

See General Repository, vol. i. p. 209.