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Notwithstanding these conjectures, it is acknowledged that although his father and mother were aware of his great diligence, yet, when they consider that he was never urged forward in his learning; was left very much to pursue his own plans, whether of study or recreation; had no class-mates to emulate; was not accustomed to rise early or sit up late, and that his literary avocations were sometimes interrupted by indisposition at home, or excursions into the country it has become a source of much surprise and some regret to his afflicted parents, to find the large amount of manual as well as mental exertion, which has been crowded into the short life of their lamented precocious boy. - A flower alas, for them! no sooner blown than gathered.

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"Yet think the spirit is not dead,

For when you seek the mercy-seat,
You may, by sweet communion led,

All join at your Redeemer's feet."

MEMOIR.

FREDERIC JAMES POST, the amiable subject of this Memoir, was born at Islington in the year 1819. He was the only child of his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Post, who, being of the religious persuasion of the Society of Friends, were concerned to lead his opening mind to a view of those doctrines which they themselves felt assured are in accordance with the Christian dispensation, as set forth in the Holy Scriptures; and, as he became more and more qualified to search for himself whether those things were so,' they had the satisfaction of finding that the principles of his

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education had become those of his more matured judgment. From his childhood, he was delicate in his frame and constitution, very thin, and tall of his age; in one year he grew as much as four inches, and at sixteen he measured nearly six feet. Those who are accustomed to view the human countenance as an index of the mind, might have noticed some peculiar traits in his features, and which, not unfrequently, did obtain observation from strangers. A French physician, in considerable practice at Rouen, and a professor of phrenology, happening once to call in company with a friend of the family, was immediately struck with Frederic's appearance, more particularly the full and intelligent eye, and the remarkable form of the head: he afterwards observed to his friend, that the mental organs in that youth were strikingly developed, but feared the vigorous exercise of his mind would, ere long, over

no more.

power and wear out the strength of his body. The doctor, in a subsequent visit to England, took an opportunity of inquiring after him with considerable interest, and was not surprised to find he was then He struggled through the complaints incident to childhood, and several years passed away without any alarming symptoms of indisposition, until, in 1830, he was suddenly attacked with slight hemorrhage of the lungs. From this he was favoured to recover, and was again restored to his usual state of health; but, in 1834, a second seizure of the like nature took place; symptoms of pulmonary disease not long afterwards appeared, and a rapid decline ensued, which terminated his short but interesting life on the 20th of 6th month, 1835.

Although far from being a robust child, his spirits were naturally buoyant, and his imagination active; and seldom experiencing much pain of body, his pursuits were

not much impeded by the weakly state of his constitution, until his last illness.

Of an inquisitive turn of mind, he very early manifested a great desire for information, and was anxious to learn things long before he was of an age to be instructed by books. When old enough to be able to sit at meals with the family in his high chair, he was well pleased, as opportunity presented, of exercising his memory, after the method of infant schools, with repeating what he knew of the history of the objects before him on the table; such as, mutton is from sheep; potatoes from under the ground; cabbages and lettuces grow out of the ground; butter comes from milk, and milk from cows; sugar comes from the East and West Indies; tea from China; oranges from Portugal; with a variety of observations of a similar description, which he had, from time to time, learned from information.

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