ith whom, &c. be had
been concern'd, in a design of settling a new plantation in the South of
Carolina, of a vast tract of land; on which he then designed to pursue
the same intention.--But being not master of a fortune equal to that
scheme, it never proved of any service to him, though many years since,
it has been cultivated largely[3].

His person was (in youth) extremely fair, and handsome; his eyes were a
dark blue, both bright and penetrating; brown hair and visage oval;
which was enlivened with a smile, the most agreeable in conversation;
where his address was affably engageing; to which was joined a dignity,
which rendered him at once respected and admired, by those (of either
sex) who were acquainted with him--He was tall, genteelly made, and not
thin.--His voice was sweet, his conversation elegant; and capable of
entertaining upon various subjects.--His disposition was benevolent,
beyond the power of the fortune he was blessed with; the calamities of
those he knew (and valued as deserving) affected him more than his own:
He had fortitude of mind sufficient to support with calmness great
misfortune; and from his birth it may be truly said he was obliged to
meet it.

Of himself, he says in his epistle dedicatory to one of his poems,

'I am so devoted a lover of a private and unbusy life, that I cannot
recollect a time wherein I wish'd an increase to the little influence
I cultivate in the dignified world, unless when I have felt the
deficience of my own power, to reward some merit that has charm'd
me:'--

His temper, though by nature warm (when injuries were done him) was as
nobly forgiving; mindful of that great lesson in religion, of returning
good for evil; and he fulfilled it often to the prejudice of his own
circumstances. He was a tender husband, friend, and father; one of the
best masters to his servants, detesting the too common inhumanity, that
treats them almost as if they were not fellow-creatures.

His manner of life was temperate in all respects (which might have
promis'd greater length of years) late hours excepted which his
indefatigable love of study drew him into; night being not liable to
interruptions like the day.

About the year 1718 he wrote a poem called the Northern-Star, upon the
actions of the Czar Peter the Great; and several years after he was
complimented with a gold medal from the empress Catherine (according to
the Czar's desire before his death) and was to have wr