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They are the delegated ministers of Providence-the appointed leaders of their race-and endowed with gifts worthy of their office. Onward they go, untired by the toils, undeterred by the difficulties, undismayed by the terrors, of their course, performing their high functions and fulfilling their exalted destiny, whether it be "Like good Aurelius to reign, or bleed

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"Like Socrates."

*

"Such men," as the poet adds, "are great indeed;" and such have been in Physics a Newton, and in Morals a Milton. They point out the path, and themselves advance with giant-strides upon it. Succeeding generations" enter into their labours," and a Herschel starts where a Newton stops. Such then, to use the beautiful language of Sir Edward Bulwer, was the genius and character of that wonderful man, to whom the divine and solemn "countenance of free"dom was dearer than the light of day, and whose solitary "spell, accomplishing what the whole family of earth once vainly began upon the plains of Shinar, has built of "materials more imperishable than slime and brick, a city "and a tower, whose summit has indeed reached to heaven." Such, to adopt the panegyric of Sir James Mackintosh (as great indeed as could be bestowed, but yet not greater than is deserved) was the character of the man who "attained "the loftiest eminence of moral genius ever reached by "a mortal."t Such was the character of John Milton, which I have (most inadequately I am conscious) presented to you in some of its strong lights, and of which the influence I trust is every day becoming more and more felt among men, brightening and growing as they advance in knowledge and virtue; a model at once for admiration and imitation, displaying a man who combined the greatest and most opposite qualities; who was at once an instructor of youth and the teacher of nations; a disinterested statesman, and an enthusiastic lover of learning; a practical philosopher and writer of the day; and a sublime poet,

*The Disowned. Vol. ii.

+ Preliminary Dissertation to the Supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

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whose lofty musings must command the reverence of all future ages; intently absorbed in every important inquiry connected with the temporal interests of his race, and yet filled with an earnest and perpetual "longing after "immortality," with "thoughts which wandered through "eternity!"

THE END.

Printed by A. HANCOCK, Middle Row Place, Holborn.

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