EULOGIUM.
249
All his works give evidence that his was no common
mind. He cannot indeed be classed with those dis¬
tinguished men, the great suns of Literature—the Platos,
the Newtons and the Bacons, who appear only once in
an age, and shine for all coming times: yet he was well-
gifted in mental resources and intellectual ability. The
more marked features of his mind, if I mistake not,
were clearness of judgment, sound common sense, ac¬
curate discrimination, and that marked characteristic of
Englishmen—practicality. He was undoubtedly, a man
of extensive information, and large acquaintance. He
had one faculty which Coleridge regards as indicative
of a great mind—"The capability of extending its
attention to the greatest multiplicity of affairs." The
logical faculty is not strongly developed in his writings.
Like most Reformers he perceives truth as by intuition;
and without the labor of severe ratiocination, arrives at
his conclusions, with accuracy and correctness. With
all this, he was an excellent scholar, which shed a grace¬
ful influence over the fruits of his mind, and adorned
his style. The latter was clear and chaste, full of sweet
simplicity, and abounding at times in beautiful para¬
graphs.
Mr. Clarkson, however, did not allow his attention to
be absorbed entirely in literary pursuits. He had de¬
voted himself to the cause of the African race; and to
that cause he was determined to be true and faithful
through life. He had indeed succeeded in one great
object of his life. The British government, had been
led to declare the slave trade Piracy; and so far as it
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