in general to be informed, that it af forded no confirmation of the vulgar idea, that early expansion of intellect is unfavourable to the continuance of life. In consequence of the remarkable form of his head, which had been much admired, especially by artists, some doubts had been suggested, that rendered it desirable to have the head as well as body examined. From the result of this investigation it appeared, that the brain was unusually large, and in the most perfect and healthy state: that the disorder, as it was uniformly considered to have been, was in the stomach, and had received all the relief that medical skill and the most anxious attention could afford; and that there was more than ordinary probability, from the vigour of his con

stitution, and the well-proportioned formation of his body, of his arriving at manhood, but for one of those accidents in the system, to which the old and young, the healthy and infirm, are all equally exposed.

His illness lasted from the first to the thirty-first of July; a period which, under such severe sufferings, none but a naturally strong patient could have endured. On the morning of the thirty-first, his medical friends, Dr. Lister and Mr. Toulmin, saw and conversed with him, as he with them, after their usual manner: and though they had given little or no encouragement for many days, they did not, on this last visit, such was the collected state of his mind and strength of his spirits, apprehend his dissolution to be

so near. Soon after eleven o'clock he appeared much exhausted: his breathing became very difficult, and his voice, which through his illness had been strong and clear, began to faulter. Still, however, he was firm and composed, without the slightest appearance of dissatisfaction or alarm; he talked at intervals with the most perfect consistency, with his accustomed powers, and usual kindness to those about him, till he could no longer utter a sound. In a few minutes after he had ceased to articulate; and a little before twelve o'clock, sunk without a struggle or a groan, exciting more admiration under circumstances, from which human nature is apt to revolt, than when in the full career of mental and bodily improvement.

Thus ends this short history of a child, whose mind, though his years were few, seemed to have arrived at maturity. His powers of understanding, of memory, and of imagination' were all remarkable; and the reasonableness of his mind was such, that he always yielded his own to the wishes of his friends, as much from conviction as compliance: his dispositions were as generous and

amiable as his talents were brilliant and extensive: and there can be little doubt, that, in after-life, whether he had devoted the powers of his mind to the fine arts, to belleslettres, or to the severer studies, his success would have placed him, in the estimation of the wise, whatever might have been his external condition, high

in the catalogue of worthy and useful members of society.

THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH.

It has justly been observed, that as art never made a poet, so nothing but nature can make a painter. There must be a native in-born genius to give any person a pre-eminence in these exquisite graces and accomplishments. It is, however, pleasing and instructive to mark the early bursts of genius which indicate the turn of mind, and lead men to marked distinction, either as elegant writers or artists.

Thomas Gainsborough, one of the