Page:Our Hymns.djvu/398

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378
OUR HYMNS:

he was sent to Westminster, where he was elected a King's Scholar, and after the usual school course, he became a student of Christ Church, Oxford. There his academical course was very successful as he gained the two English prizes, and a double first-class. He also greatly enjoyed the social advantages of the place, the Debating and Essay Societies, and the friendship of many young men of his own age, who have since distinguished themselves in their several careers. When only twenty-two he was named Professor of Classical Literature, at King's College, London, then just established; and he soon after married. In 1835 he was obliged to give up his appointment on account of failing health. He took a house at Torquay in the autumn of that year, and died on the 29th of the next February, 1836. His only daughter, born a few months after his death, is married to Col. the Honourable H. H. Clifford, third son of the late Lord Clifford, of Chudleigh.

"The hymns were all dictated to his wife during the last few weeks of his life, and were composed just at the period of the day (the afternoon) when he most felt the oppression of his illness, all his brighter morning hours being given to pupils up to the very day of his death."

Professor Anstice was the author of "Richard Cœur de Lion," a prize poem recited in the Theatre, Oxford, June 18th, 1828; and of the Oxford English Prize Essay on "The Influence of the Roman Conquests upon Literature and the Arts in Rome." He also published "An Introductory Lecture," delivered at King's College, London, October 17th, 1831. His principal work was "Selections from the Choice Poetry of the Greek Dramatic Writers, translated into English Verse, 1832."


WILLIAM LINDSAY ALEXANDER D.D.

Born 1808.

This eminent divine, the greatest ornament of Independency in Scotland, was born at Leith, August 24th, 1808. After being