CXIV

account of the life and

feme other circumftances, that he pofTeffed a pow-er, not perhaps uncommon among abfent men,of recollecting, in confequence of fubfequent effortsof reflection, many occurrences which, at the timewhen they happened, did not feem to have fen-fibly attracted his notice.

To the defect now mentioned, it was probablyowing, in part, that he did not fall in eafily withthe common dialogue of converfation, and that hewas fomewhat apt to convey his own ideas in theform of a lecture. When he did fo, however, itnever proceeded from a with to ingrofs the dif-courfe, or to gratify his vanity. His own inclina-tion difpofed him fo ftrongly to enjoy in filencethe gaiety of thofe around him, that his friendswere often led to concert little fchemes, in orderto bring him on the fubjects mod likely to inter-eft him. Nor do I think I fhall be accufed ofgoing too far, when I fay, that he was fcarcely everknown to ftart a new topic himfelf, or to appearunprepared upon thofe topics that were introdu-ced by others. Indeed, his converfation was ne-ver more amufing than when he gave a loofe tohis genius, upon the very few branches of know-ledge of which he only poffeffed the outlines.

The opinions he formed of men, upon a flightacquaintance, were frequently erroneous ; but thetendency of his nature inclined him much moreto blind partiality, than to ill-founded prejudice.