mortals (says one who witnessed his concluding days), as he was soon to converse with higher beings."

The same worthy friend says of him: "He was a meek sufferer through this world of misery; a sincere and contrite penitent for time mispent, and talents misapplied; a humble believer in Christ his saviour. I saw him in his last sufferings; I heard his last. words; he languished under weakness extreme; he laboured under most grievous pains; he was wonderfully patient and resigned; for he knew in whom he believed, and his hope was full of immortality. He prayed with uncommon fervour to his good God,** even to Jesus Christ, in whom all his hopes were placed, and without whom,' said he,Heaven would be no Heaven for me.' Death was the

wished-for messenger, whom he earnestly expected. Three days before that awful event his pulse ceased to beat, and the sight of his eyes went from him; the last struggle is over; the bitterness of death is past. There was a humble dignity and composure in that hour of trial, worthy the man and the Christian. Let me die the death of the righteous; and let my last end be like his.'"

He left this world for a better, the 2d day of November, 1788, and his remains were buried in St. George's church, Kingswood, amid the tears of numbers who, knowing his worth, attended to pay him their last respects.

Such was John Henderson, whose life presents this instructive lesson, that uncommon attainments, even though accompanied with great mo

ral virtue, are gifts sent by Heaven to be usefully employed in the service of society.

ALEXANDER POPE.

AMONG those who have discovered a very early indication of great talents, the mature age of many has not answered the promising expectations of their youth; but extraordinary as the powers of Pope appeared, even in his juvenile essays, he continued to improve during the greater part of his literary career, and he will ever rank as one of the first of modern poets, whether of this or any other country.

At the birth of our author in 1688, his parents were engaged in business in London, where they resided till

he was nearly twelve years of age; when they removed to Binfield, near Windsor. He was taught to read very early by an aunt, and he learned to write without any assistance, by copying printed books, which he executed with great neatness and exact

ness.

At eight years of age, he was placed under the tuition of one Taverner, a priest of the Romish persuasion, his family being of that religion. This instructor taught him the rudiments of the Latin and Greek languages together. He imbibed these elements of classical learning with the greatest facility; and the first sight of the poets discovered at once both the peculiar bent of his inclination and the excellency of his genius. He has himself declared, that the time of

his beginning to write verses was so very early in life, that he could scarcely recall it to his memory. When he was but a child, his father would frequently set him to make English verses. It seems the old gentleman was difficult to be pleased, and would oblige the lad to correct them again and again: and when at last he approved them, he took great pleasure in the perusal, saying, "These are good rhymes." These early praises of a tender and respected parent, co-operating with the natural inclinations of the son, may possibly be the causes that fixed our young bard in the resolution of becom ing eminent in the art of poesy.

About this time, accidentally meeting with Ogilby's translation of Homer, he was so much struck with the force of the story, that notwithstand