INTRODUCTION. THERE is, to the mind of the Editor, a striking analogy between the lamented Author of these Remains, and the interesting subject of Mr. Southey's care, referred to in the Preface. Lyde, as respects the promise of his brief but bright career, and the hopes of his future usefulness and eminence so sanguinely entertained by those who knew him, as respects, too, the incidents of his personal history, and the peculiar traits of his intellect, and many points in his moral character, is before the mind of the Editor, as, in a remarkable analogy, the Henry Kirke White of America, and the contemplation of him is a sad pleasure. So gifted with intellectual capacity, so refined in taste, so delicate in moral apprehensions, that few were able to understand his excellence, and withal so reserved in confidential intercourse, that few might really know him, he has glided silently away from us. And we feel as one who has tost listlessly into the sea some fair pebble picked up on the beach, and perceives too late, as it passes from his hand, the clear and white rays of the diamond: or we feel as one who has been roused from a long trance, just when the glowing sun of a cloudless summer day has settled under the verge of the horizon, and fancies, in his first surprise, that he sees the herald light of the morning; but the glorious hues fade sorrowfully, and the golden light becomes pale, and presently the soft stars tell him he has lost the day. Thus we feel desolate. But our brother is in heaven, and his light is on another sphere, and we may not mourn for him. This Introduction will be devoted to a brief sketch of the life and character of Lyde, and a brief notice of his literary remains. We remember, that it was proposed some three or four years since by a gentleman well qualified for the duty, then a student in the General Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in New York, to prepare a volume, which should include memoirs of three, who had deceased from the class which graduated in 1834 from that institution, Lloyd Saxbury Waddell,* George F. Cook, and the Author of these Remains. Such a volume would be acceptable to their friends, and would, without doubt, be highly useful in our Church. The piety and Christian character of many, who, like the three above mentioned, have died in their * A native of the city of New York, who died in the same city, November 17th, 1832, aged twenty-one years. A native of Cornish, N. H., born September 18th, 1808, who died in the city of New York, March 29th, 1834, and was buried on the Easter Sunday following. morning service at the altar of Christ in our Church,* have been suffered to pass away from the public remembrance, when they should have been recorded, for an example to their successors. Whether the design referred to has been prosecuted, or abandoned on account of the claims of other duties, the Editor has not been informed. It is hoped the design is prosecuted. The present volume will be no interference with the plan; and the materials for this Introduction are purposely selected from pieces already in print. By such an arrangement, besides, near friends will have, what is always especially desired by them in such cases, the several pieces which appeared at the time of our brother's demise, and which convey most concisely and exactly the impression produced by that event. We transcribe now an obituary notice of the deceased, which appeared in "The Churchman " (published in the city of New York) of December 6th, 1834, and simultaneously in "The Episcopal Recorder" (published at Philadelphia), and which was prepared by a friend, who had long known him intimately, and was best fitted to draw up such a memorial, the Rev. Samuel Starr (as it is understood), then Rector of the Church at Camden, New Jersey. "The Rev. Augustus Foster Lyde was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, February 4th, 1813, where in early life he *To the list we add the name of Henry H. Cook, a native of Claremont, N. H., and a member of the Middle Class in the General Seminary, who died, in the city of New York, on the 28th of January in the current year. b |