On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
answer to the inquiries of this correspondent , I shall avoid a discussion of the points alluded to by him , and shall content myself with exhibiting a few traits of Mr * Henderson ' s character and
deportment , collected during that acquaintance which I maintained with him at the university of which he was h member . It -may-not--perhaps be impertinent of- superfluous to mention some -particulars relative to the commencement of our acquaintance . I had never seen Mr .
Henderson before he entered at Pembroke College , though his fame had previously reached my ears . One morning while I was occupied in my apartments at this college , I was surprised by the unexpected appearance oi the joint tutors of
our societv , introducing to me a stranger * who from the singularity of his dress , and the uncouthness X ) i his aspect ( I s ^ peak not with any disrespect ; , attracted my notice in an uncommon degree . His clothes were made in a fashioti
peculiar to himself ; he wore no sttK ^ t or neckcloth ; his buckles w «* &eso small as not to exceed the di&s&nsions of an ordinary knee . biwJkie , at a time when very large buckles were in vogue . Though
lie was then twenty-four years of age , he wore his hair like that of a schooUboy of six * This stranger * tf as no less a person than Mr , Henderson , ' who had that morn , ing been enrolled in our fraternity , and ^ had been recommended to
apartments situated exactly tinder mine , which I believe was the sole reason of his being introduced to me in particular , as it was not otherwise probable that I should have been singled out as the per * "son who was to initiate this fresh
Untitled Article
man in the ways and customs of the college . : &Tr . Henderson passing some hours of that day with me , I was gratified with a rich feast of intellectual entertainment . The extent and variety of his knowledge , the intrinsic politeness of his man .
ners , his inexhaustible fund of humour and anecdote , concurred to instruct , please , and amuse me . From this period to the time of my relinquishing an academical residence ( a space of about four jears ) , I was frequently honoured with the society of Mr . Henderson .
I had therefore many opportunities of being acquainted with his natural disposition , his habits of life , and his moral as well as literary character . His temper was mild , placable , and humane . He possessed such
a spirit of philanthropy , that he was ready to oblige every individual as far as lay in his power . His benevolence knew no bpunds ; and his liberality was so diflfusive that it submitted with difficulty to
the circumscription of a narrow income . He was fond pf society , and well qualified to shine in it . He was frank , open , andcomjpunicative ^ averse to suspicion ^ and untinctured with pride or
moroseness . His mode of life was singular . He generally retired ( o rest about day-break , and rose in . the ^ fibernoon : a practice , however , that was frequently interrupted by the occasional attendance which he
was obliged to give to the morning service of the college chapel , t ^ e spent a gfeat part of the $ ay ^ m smoking , and , except when ! in company , he usuall y re $ d while he smoked . He had no objection to the liberal use of wine aad spi-
Untitled Article
290 Anecdotes of Mr * Henderson
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1812, page 290, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1748/page/10/
-