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    splendid genius with the most re * gular and persevering industry , of a generous independence of character with a perfect respect

    for the government and the laws of college , and of a keen relish for innocent enjoyment with a fixed dread of every appearance of vice . It may be worth while to record that he never incurred

    any college censure , and was not even fined , till the last term of his senior year , and then only for some trifling negligence . It may be said of him as it has been remarked of a kindred genius , that " he did not need the smart of

    guilt to make him virtuous , nor the regret of folly to make him wise . '' * In the summer of 1800 , he received the honours of the university . There are many who recollect the oration which he then

    delivered on u the literary characters of different nations , and the impression produced by the sight of his small and youthful figure , contrasted with the maturity and extent of his knowledge , the correctness as well as brilliancy of his imagination , and the propriety and grace of his elocution .

    To the study of theology he was inclined from the period when he received his earliest religious impressions ; and he devoted himself peculiarly to it for more than four

    years after leaving college . His time was spent partly in the family of his relative , Theodore Lynde , Esq . at Waltham and Boston , and partly at Exeter , as an assistant in the academy . The portion of this time which was given to the instruction of youth , he always

    • President KirklancTs Life of Mr . Amci .

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    remembered with pleasure , & $ leading him to a review of his early classical studies , and giving him that accuracy in elementary principles , in which the preparatory schools of America have been considered as chiefly deficient . The number of works in theology , metaphysics , morals and ge » neral literature which he read

    during the period of which we speak , would appear scarcely credible to one who did not know the rapidity with which he looked through a book , and the almost intuitive sagacity with which he seized and retained all that was

    valuable in its contents . That what he read was thoroughly digested , was apparent from the accuracy—so often observed and admired by his friends—with which he would discriminate the peculiar merits of different writers- From

    some fragments of a journal of bis studies it appears , that where he thought a book of particular importance , he was accustomed to make a copious analysis of its contents . It was also his habit

    to make references , at the end of a volume , to ths pages where any interesting passages were found . Particulars like these , are , it is true , unimportant in themselves ;

    but they may perhaps gratify , in some degree , that natural and not useless curiosity which we feel with regard to all the circumstances of a distinguished man ' s preparation for his future emi

    nence . The process of study and of thought through which he passed in forming his theological opinions , cannot be too much praised . H is strange that a principle so natural , and so constantly observed in all other sciences—that of be-

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    5 $ 2 Memoir of the late Rev . J . S . BucJcminster .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1814, page 592, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2445/page/4/