Charles Wolfe was the youngest son of Theobald Wolfe, Esq., of Blackhall, in the county of Kildare. His mother was the daughter of the Rev. Peter Lombard. He was born in Dublin, on the 14th December 1791. At an early age he lost his father, not long after whose death the family removed to England, where they resided for some years. In the year 1801, Charles was sent to a school at Bath, from which, in a few months, he was obliged to return home in consequence of the delicacy of his health, which interrupted his education for twelve months. Upon his recovery, he was placed under the tuition of Dr. Evans, in Salisbury; but was removed in the year 1805, and soon after was sent as a boarder to Hyde Abbey School, Winchester, of which Mr. Richards, senior, was then the able master. "There," observes Mr. Russell, "he soon distinguished himself by his great proficiency in classical knowledge, and by his early powers of Latin and Greek versification, and displayed the dawnings of a genius which promised to set him amidst that bright constellation of British poets which adorns the literature of the present age. The many high testimonies to his amiable disposition and superior talents, which are supplied by the affectionate letters of his schoolmasters, show that he was not overvalued by his own family, with every member of which he seems to have been the special favourite. I cannot better describe the manner in which his character as a boy was appreciated at school and at home, and how deservedly it was so prized, than in the following simple language of a very near relative, to whom I am indebted for some of the particulars of his life already mentioned; The letters I enclose you bear testimony to the amiable character of my dear, dear Charles, such as I ever remember it. Those from Mr. Richards I can better estimate than any one else, from knowing that he was not easily pleased in a pupil, or apt to flatter. He was greatly attracted by superior talents; but you will see, that he speaks of qualities of more value. He never received even a slight punishment or reprimand at any school to which he ever went; and in nearly twelve years that he was under my mother's care, I cannot recollect that he ever acted contrary to her wishes, or caused her a moment's pain, except parting with her when he went to school. I do not know whether he ever told you that he had, when a boy, a wish to enter the army, which was acquired by being in the way of military scenes; but, when he found it would give his mother pain, he totally gave up the idea, which I am sure, all his life he thanked God that he had done. In 1808, he left Winchester (where he had been three years), owing to our coming to Ireland, as my mother could not think of leaving him behind. His company was her first earthly comfort, and she could not relinquish it; indeed we used to count the hours when the time drew near that he was expected. We were often told that we would spoil him, but you know whether it was so. When we arrived in Ireland, it was intended that he should go to some other school, but he did not go to any, nor had he any one to read with him, so that he entered college with much less previous instruction than most others. I believe you knew him soon after; and I need not tell you of him since, or what he has been, even if I could. I have never heard of a school-fellow or a college acquaintance who did not respect or love him, but I will not say more to you.' The pleasing testimony to his character and abilities contained in this extract, is indeed fully borne out by the accounts which some of his school-fellows have given of him to the writer. They spoke of him with the strongest affection, and represented him as the pride of Winchester school." This description of his early proficiency is corroborated by other testimony. "His classical attainments," observes one of his most intimate friends*, "distinguished him when. very young. The facility and elegance with which he wrote Latin verse excited admiration. With most boys it is a mechanical labour, and it is indeed absurd to make it a general practice at our schools. But the mind of Wolfe was keenly sensitive of the charms of the Augustan age of com * John Sydney Taylor, Esq. in a letter in the Morning Chronicle which will presently be adverted to. position. He was such a master of Latin expression, and had so much of the spirit of the bard in him, that his thoughts shaped themselves with a grace and vigour like those of his native tongue, into the language of the Roman Muse." In the year 1809 he entered the University of Dublin, and became the pupil of the late Rev. Dr. Davenport, the Professor of Natural Philosophy, who immediately conceived the highest esteem for him, and did every thing in his power to cultivate his talents. Of this gentleman, and of his kindness, Mr. Wolfe ever spoke in terms of the most grateful recollection. Thus assisted and encouraged, Mr. Wolfe soon distinguished himself, and was rewarded by various academical honours. In the very first year of his college course he wrote upon "The Prison-scene of Jugurtha," (a subject proposed by the head of the University,) an English poem, which, if not equal to some of his subsequent productions, certainly" evinces," to use Mr. Russell's words, "boldness of thought, vigour of expression, and somewhat of a dramatic spirit." "Towards the close of the same year," says Mr. Russell, "he had to sustain a severe domestic affliction, in the death of his mother an event which wrought upon his affectionate heart an impression of the deepest regret. As soon as he was enabled to resume his studies, he entered upon them with diligence." This period of Mr. Wolfe's life is thus interestingly described by the author of " College Recollections." It has already been mentioned, that Mr. Wolfe is designated in that work by the name of "Waller." The name of " Crampton" is equally fictitious. The circumstances which are detailed are however, we understand, strictly true. "He had early acquired a very high reputation: for the first two years of his residence in college, he had devoted himself to classical studies, which seemed more congenial to his fine taste and sparkling fancy; and during this time he had carried off all the prizes, and was admitted to be, by eminence, the most distinguished man of his day. In the third year, when languages are no longer objects of exclusive interest, he found that his inferiority in the sciences precluded him from his accustomed distinction. As usual, his friends used to rush eagerly up to the hall when the bell announced that the examination had ended, and the multitudes issued forth at the opened doors; but not as usual did Waller receive their congratulations, and he had, examination after examination, to read in the countenances around him an expression of disappointment. This was not to be endured. However distasteful to him the sciences were, it was more disagreeable to be defeated and to see his friends mortified. The division in which he happened to be was that in which the best science scholar in the undergraduate course had, for nearly three years, maintained an undisputed ascendancy. Waller might, if he pleased, have had himself transferred into a division where he would have had a fairer prospect of success; but this would not satisfy his ambition. It demanded a more noble triumph. He accordingly held his place in his class, and devoted himself only the more earnestly to what might almost be termed a new study. During the entire interval between the examinations he kept his noble faculties concentrated, and in intense action, upon what had been a most distasteful pursuit, and felt himself, when the time of trial drew near, possessed of knowledge and power which he had, in the beginning, but faint hopes of attaining. During the examination, (which is continued at intervals for two days,) the interest and speculation respecting the result it is almost impossible to describe. At these trials of academic proficiency, no persons are permitted to be present except the examined and their examiners. After the first morning, it was noised abroad that Waller had answered with great ability, and had solved some difficult problems; and it was observed, that Crampton, his great adversary, did not pass across the courts to his room with his accustomed supercilious composure: the report at the close of the day was, that Waller had maintained, and, indeed, increased the character he had made in the morning; and some said, that he had gained a decided advantage over Crampton. The next day passed in the same manner, the interest becoming more general through the college; and if a stranger, during the last hours of the examination, were to pass through the courts, he would have had his attention strongly arrested by the faces of the different groups scattered in various directions about, and by the restlessness with which single stragglers were in motion; now at the closed door of the hall, now looking up to the college clock, and seeing that there were five still minutes to pass; and he would have felt certain, that something of much more than ordinary interest was in agitation. At last the small bell tingled, and the doors were thrown open. It is little to say, that the wave from within was met by a more precipitous rush from all the parts of the court without, to know the result; and although there were, perhaps, thirty premiums adjudged, yet the whole interest of the enquiries seem to be centered in the fate of one; and, for a moment, the faces of friends and brothers were unnoticed, in the eagerness to explore, amidst the moving mass, the face of Crampton and his opponent Waller. The first who came out was Crampton. His features seemed sunk and pale, and there was a bewildered air over his countenance, as if he was incapable of comprehending whether all around him was real. This was soon understood, when Waller was distinguished, with a suppressed enthusiasm breaking out in every feature and every expression of his countenance, and his friends now needed not to be told, that he had been successful; and yet, amidst all their joy and exultation, the appearance of Crampton crossing the courts with a hurried and disordered air, and without taking notice of the few friends who accompanied him, had the power effectually to check any disposition which they might have felt of making a public demonstration of their triumph. "It was on the evening of this day that I met him for the first time; I cannot but call it a proud evening for him. Every person in company, except myself, was a tried and loved friend, and he knew how truly I esteemed his character; there was not, therefore, an individual present, whom he did not know to rejoice in his triumph: and I cannot conceive |