JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT

Admitted, 23rd Nov., 1791; discharged, 20th Nov., 1799

LEIGH HUNT and his brother, it is said, were unmistakably American, that is Creole, in their appearance. The boy Leigh had dark eyes and hair, and an animated expression, to which maternal petting had given confidence. The mother had been told that "if he survived to the age of fifteen he might turn out to possess a more than average amount of intellect; but that otherwise he stood a chance of dying an idiot." In early childhood he had many illnesses, and was naturally tended with a very special solicitude. He had a pleasing voice, moreover, and was encouraged to use it; "Alone, by the light of the moon," being the show song, and "Dans votre lit" the family favourite both "by Mr. Hook."

School-life was a sudden and rather a terrible

change from such surroundings; but he had a good foundation of stubborn endurance, which, combined with his chivalry towards all in trouble, saved him from ultimately going to the wall. As a rule he would neither fight nor run away, and probably remained a partial mystery to the common herd; but his social gifts were valued in the cloisters by some of the choicer spirits whom he delighted to call his friends.