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Article ACCOUNT OF JOHN WATKINS, L. L. D. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Account Of John Watkins, L. L. D.
ACCOUNT OF JOHN WATKINS , L . L . D .
[ WITH A PORTRAIT . ]
TVTOTHING , perhaps , can be of a more delicate nature than the X N ! biographical delineation of a living character . While curiosity on the one hand is alive to know every particular relative to those persons by whose labours we have profited , or whose situation in life renders them the objects of admiration ; the hand of the biographer , on the other , is restrained from that boldness of execution which is necessary to give his figure force and effect . Many circumstances must
be thrown into shade ; others entirely suppressed ; ' and the free repre - sentation of character and disposition cannot possibly be expected . It is only when the hand of death gives the finish , that we can look for the full and impartial representation , attended . with all those minutiae which the tenderness of friendship hitherto kept concealed . Of the living personages , therefore , whose portraits occasionally
grace our Magazine , our readers are to- look' for little more than a leading account of circumstances , and to a brief sketch of character . The gentleman , whose portrait we have given in the present number , is a native of Devonshire ; though we are informed he had not any part of his education in that county . If our intelligence is accurate ( and we have no reason to question it ) he may be considered as aulsS . S . xl ©' , one of those whose genius will burst forth in spite of depression , and arise to full view and catch
theadmiration of men . Through all the juvenile part of his life , he seemed to be hovering over the chambers of death . His earl y years were chequered with misfortunes , and clouded with disease . More than once , we are told , have the anxious attendants declared him to be no longer an inhabitant of this nether fphere . In such a state of weakness and inadeqviacy for societyliterature
, formed his only . amusement . Though placed in a respectable seminary of learning , his infirmities pressed so severely upon him , that the advantages which he derived from that situation were comparatively but small . To the exercise , therefore , of his own mind , aided by the sedentariness which necessity thus imposed upon him , his attainments either in the languages . or the sciences are principally to be attributed .
Of one who has devoted himself entirely to literary pursuits , and a life of learned ease ; , scarcely any particulars can be gathered to gratify public curiosity . The adventures of but few authors have afforded entertainment by their variety , or excited surprize by their novelty . If the subject of the present memoir has not dazzled bv the splendour , or astonished by the number , of his productions , he can yet felicitate himself on their tendency . Nor has he any-reason to complain of the want of public approbation . Though the far greater pan
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Account Of John Watkins, L. L. D.
ACCOUNT OF JOHN WATKINS , L . L . D .
[ WITH A PORTRAIT . ]
TVTOTHING , perhaps , can be of a more delicate nature than the X N ! biographical delineation of a living character . While curiosity on the one hand is alive to know every particular relative to those persons by whose labours we have profited , or whose situation in life renders them the objects of admiration ; the hand of the biographer , on the other , is restrained from that boldness of execution which is necessary to give his figure force and effect . Many circumstances must
be thrown into shade ; others entirely suppressed ; ' and the free repre - sentation of character and disposition cannot possibly be expected . It is only when the hand of death gives the finish , that we can look for the full and impartial representation , attended . with all those minutiae which the tenderness of friendship hitherto kept concealed . Of the living personages , therefore , whose portraits occasionally
grace our Magazine , our readers are to- look' for little more than a leading account of circumstances , and to a brief sketch of character . The gentleman , whose portrait we have given in the present number , is a native of Devonshire ; though we are informed he had not any part of his education in that county . If our intelligence is accurate ( and we have no reason to question it ) he may be considered as aulsS . S . xl ©' , one of those whose genius will burst forth in spite of depression , and arise to full view and catch
theadmiration of men . Through all the juvenile part of his life , he seemed to be hovering over the chambers of death . His earl y years were chequered with misfortunes , and clouded with disease . More than once , we are told , have the anxious attendants declared him to be no longer an inhabitant of this nether fphere . In such a state of weakness and inadeqviacy for societyliterature
, formed his only . amusement . Though placed in a respectable seminary of learning , his infirmities pressed so severely upon him , that the advantages which he derived from that situation were comparatively but small . To the exercise , therefore , of his own mind , aided by the sedentariness which necessity thus imposed upon him , his attainments either in the languages . or the sciences are principally to be attributed .
Of one who has devoted himself entirely to literary pursuits , and a life of learned ease ; , scarcely any particulars can be gathered to gratify public curiosity . The adventures of but few authors have afforded entertainment by their variety , or excited surprize by their novelty . If the subject of the present memoir has not dazzled bv the splendour , or astonished by the number , of his productions , he can yet felicitate himself on their tendency . Nor has he any-reason to complain of the want of public approbation . Though the far greater pan