can die." He breathed his last on the 17th June 1709, forty-seven years
old, and leaving one child, a daughter, who died, at an advanced age, at
Bilton, Warwickshire, in 1797. His funeral took place, at dead of night,
in Westminster Abbey, Bishop Atterbury meeting the procession and reading
the service by torch-light. He was laid beside his friend Montague, and
in a few months his successor, Craggs, was laid beside him. Nearly a
century elapsed ere the present monument was erected over his dust.
Tickell wrote a fine poem to his memory; and a splendid edition of his
works was published by subscription in 1721.

Addison was cut off in the prime of life, and interrupted in some
literary undertakings and projects of great pith and moment. He had
written a portion of a treatise on the "Evidences of Christianity," and
was meditating some works, such as a "Metrical Version of the Psalms" and
a tragedy on the history of Socrates, still more suitable to his cast of
mind.

We have already indicated our opinion alike of Addison's character and
genius, but must be permitted a few closing remarks. Both partook of the
feminine type. He was an amiable and highly gifted, rather than a strong
or great man. His shrinking timidity of temperament, his singular modesty
of manners, his quiet, sly power of humorous yet kindly observation,
his minute style of criticism, even the peculiar cast of his piety, all
served to stamp the lady-man. In taciturnity alone he bore the sex no
resemblance. And hence it is that Campbell in poetry, and Addison in
prose, are, or were, the great favourites of female readers. He had many
weaknesses, but, as in the character of woman, they appeared beautiful,
and cognate to his gentle nature. His fear of giving offence was one of
the most prominent of these. In his writings and in his life, he seems
always treading on thin ice. Pope said truly of him--