ART. XIX.-Life and Letters, together with poetical and miscellaneous pieces of the late William Person, a student of Harvard University. Cambridge: Hilliard & Metcalf. 1820. pp. 252, 12mo. We took up this volume without much expectation of pleasure or instruction. The life of a young man, cut off in the midst of his pupillage, seemed to promise little else than tales of the school and play-ground. Indications of early genius there might be, and examples of docility and diligence fit for other youth to imitate. But that there should be any thing in which the generality of adult readers would take much interest, or any thing of consequence enought to justify the publication, we could hardly suppose. The lives of merely literary men have sometimes been thought to be too barren and monotonous. What then should be said of the life of one, who had not finished his preparatory course, nor even advanced far enough to make choice of a profession? Nor did we build much greater hopes upon the poetical and miscellaneous pieces, said to be contained in the volume. Considered as the compositions of a learner, they might be entitled to great praise; they might be such as would be read with surprize and delight at a school examination; they might even be much more than this, and discover a mind always far in advance of the stage which it had reached in education. But, after all, was it to be expected that they could be any thing more than exercises, designed to strengthen and prepare the faculties for future and more serious exertions? These were our thoughts, and, as we were not promised a story of a prodigy, of an admirable Crichton, or a Barretier, it may well be supposed that we did not begin to read with any great hope that our time was to be well employed. It has proved otherwise, however; and if it be useful and profitable, as it certainly is, to old as well as young, to contemplate virtuous resolution struggling with difficulties, pursuing the noblest objects with a courage which an unshaken trust in Providence only could sustain, and at last arriving at the end which at first seemed unattainable; if manly strength of character, united with the finest sensibility, may deserve and reward attention, we may safely recommend this book to all who take delight in seeing the affections and the moral qualities called into action, and can love and admire excellence under whatever circumstances, and at whatever age it may appear. There is something of a romantic and mysterious interest blended with the history of this extraordinary youth; in consequence of his having been one of those who, by the fault of their parents, come lawlessly into life. It too often happens that the innocent offspring, in such a case, is made to bear the evil and disgrace, while the guilty parties remain concealed, and as the writer of this memoir well remarks, to avoid disgrace and degradation, do what renders them worthy of a punishment still more severe." Person, it seems, was deserted by both his parents, and never acknowledged by either. He was born in December, 1793-and in the October following was placed in a respectable family in Andover. Four or five years afterwards he was put to school under a private teacher in that place, with whom he made rapid progress in the studies proper to that age. He was anxious, as it was natural he should be, to know the names and abode of his parents; but his inquiries were evaded, and he was left in that state of suspense, the painfulness of which, to a susceptible mind, may well be imagined. To be an orphan is misery enough. But to be ignorant of the authors of our being, to be uncertain whether they are among the dead or the living, near us and often seen and conversed with, or far off and studiously shunning our sight, to feel alive and unconnected amidst the mighty throng of men; and to have no object whereon filial tenderness may expend itself; this must indeed bring keen anguish to the soul of him, who is thus painfully distinguished. Person, while yet a pupil at Phillips Academy, in one of those melancholy hours, of which we may well suppose there were many in a life like his, thus describes his grief, in reply to the supposed inquiry of a compassionate stranger : Stranger, why that face of grief? Thou hast told it in thy query... Thus briefly let my griefs be known In the world I'm left alone; No kind father to protect me, Cau aught of deeper woe betide me?' p. 12. In the following anecdote we have another proof that the want of the parental relation was ever painfully present to his mind, or that at least the slightest circumstance could bring it to his recollection. Soon after his removal to Providence, at which time it will be recollected he was about eight years old, he walked by the side of a gentleman into a neighbouring church-yard. While they were looking at the grave-stones and epitaphs, he said to his compan. ion, "If I were to die, who would there be to erect a monument to my memory-and if they did, what would they put upon it?" He paused for a moment, and added, " William Person, the son of-nobody."" p. 44. But let it not be supposed that he was so ungrateful as to cherish these dark and gloomy feelings. His prevailing disposition was cheerfulness. His virtues gained him many friends, whose kindness seems to have touched his very soul. On every occasion, when his path was thus brightened by a gleam of sunshine, his heart burst forth in thankfulness, first to that God, of whose constant providence he had a strong and animating conviction, and then to the friends whose benevolence made them the instruments of God's mercy. We cannot forbear here, though somewhat in anticipation of the narrative, to introduce an affecting incident in his college life, alike honourable to his class-mates and to himself. He had returned to Cambridge, after being employed during the winter vacation as a schoolmaster, in a state of such embarrassment as to make it necessary that he should leave college, and abandon the pursuits and hopes, which he had followed thus far with the most flattering success.' His feelings at this trying moment, and the unexpected relief afforded by the generosity of his fellow-students, may best be described in his own words. We quote from a letter to a friend in Providence. ! • All my flattering prospects vanished in an instant; I saw myself sinking under the wretchedness of poverty and disappointed emulation.'......' Still I did not murmur, nor cast one reflection against the hand that oppressed me. Divine Providence saw fit that thus it should be. and I submitted, conscious that the Judge of all the earth would do right; and though I saw no other way but to abandon the course I had hitherto so successfully pursued, yet I did not distrust his grace. I expressed my feelings to no one, but my contenance sufficiently indicated my unhappiness. One evening after supper I came into my room as usual, and found several of my class-imates assembled there with my chum. I sat down with them, and we all joined conversation. After some time spent in social freedom, they all retired together, and left me alone. This, as you will see directly, was done design. edly. I drew up the table, on which our books were laid, near to the fire, and leaning my head upon my hand, sat ruminating on my unhappy situation, till the college clock summoned me to study. My next lesson was in Livy. I found my book laid, as if inadvertently, under some larger ones. Upon opening to the spot where my lesson began, I discovered a letter, sealed and directed to me. At first sight I thought it might contain some difficult question in algebra, some ænigma, οι poetical pun, which are frequently left about to try our ingenuity in answering them: but judge my feelings when, on opening it, I found it contained a one hundred dollar bill on the State Bank, Boston, and these lines : "Mr. W. Person,-Dear Sir, " Permit a number of your friends to present you the inclosed, as a small proof that brilliancy of talent, (which alone sometimes generates envy,) when united to amiability of disposition, invariably gains esteem." It is impossible to describe the successive emotions of surprize, gratitude, and joy, which this splendid and unexpected favour occasioned: It chased away my despondence and restored my usual vivacity, and in the fulness of my heart, I poured out the purest effusions of gratitude to that Almighty power, whose providence has always been my safeguard and support, and who brought me into those trying cir circumstances that he might make more illustrious display of his goodness and beneficence toward How true it is that " the Lord will not forsake those who put their trust in him!" Here is an ample supply for all my present necessities, and as for the future, they are yet unknown. ، Upon inquiry, I learned that a number of my wealthy classmates, having become acquainted with my circumstances, my re me. a cent disappointment, and my necessity of leaving college in consequence, kindly contributed from their abundance to furnish me with the means of continuing here. A young man by the name of R***, from Charleston, S. C., whose superiority of talent justly gives him the first rank in our class, was the principal agent in procuring this donation, and by his means it was conveyed to me in the manner before described. To him therefore as the representative for himself and fellow-donors, I immediately addressed a billet, containg the "simple expression of my gratitude, as a sincere though inadequate return for their distinguished liberality; rendered still more acceptable by the disinterestedness and delicate regard to personal feeling displayed in its application," together with such encomiums and remarks as justice required and my feelings at that time dictated. This was answered in terms the most friendly and flattering. I have been thus explicit, that you might have some idea of my present circumstances as they are, and that you might rejoice with me in my prosperity.' pp. 33-37. We are now to state very succinctly by what course of events Person became a member of Harvard University. In 1801, he was taken from Andover by two gentlemen, one of whom he did not see after reaching Boston, and the other he accompanied to Providence, and became a resident in his family, as an apprentice for learning the tanner's trade. When he left Andover, he was told, that he should return in a fortnight. This piece of deception was probably thought necessary, on account of his strong attachment to the family in which he resided; an attachment, which seems hardly to have lessened in the long interval which elapsed before his return. In a record made after that event, he describes this journey in a manner, which shews how deeply every circumstance had been imprinted on his mind. The piece is too long to quote, but in the conclusion he thus speaks of his past occupations, and the prospects, which were then opening upon him. 'At six o'clock P. M. I arrived at Providence. To this succeeded a tedious, long, and unremitted apprenticeship; and the promised fortnight was protracted to thirteen years! But I dwelt in the bosom of a worthy family, and am cheered by the consciousness of having served my master faithfully; and am blessed with the satisfaction of knowing, that am beloved by his family; and possessed with a strong hope of yet enjoying the ac |