manner, always so becoming in age, gave proper weight to his serious remarks, and sometimes had an air of indescribable archness or covert humour, when he allowed it to run into his lighter conversation or writings. He continued to correspond with some of his young relatives till the close of his days. Only three weeks before his death, he wrote a long letter, containing remarks on Latin prosody; on the faults of public speakers at the present day, with expressions of the kindest and most familiar interest in his friends and their concerns, written too in a strong, close hand, that might be expected from one in middle life. In stature, he was of moderate height, his person neither spare nor corpulent, but indicating perfect health, and an easy mind. His head and features were large and impressive. He was not fond of bodily activity, and always walked with a regular, measured step, as if he were consulting his ease, as far as he could, in doing a thing for which he had small relish. His mind kept pace with the world; his courtesy and hospitality could not have altered but for the worse; but his habits of life, his dress, and many things that belong to one's comfort, and yet may not be worth enumerating, appear to have undergone little if any change for years, and to have shown, as well as the cast of his conversation, that he was of another generation. |