the latter end of a lover's lute."

White's book was published in 1796; and one of the early copies was sold
at the Roxburgh sale for five guineas. Is it possible that the imitations
could have been mistaken for originals? Afterwards, the little book could
be picked up for eighteenpence; even for sixpence. It was always a great
favorite with Lamb. He reviewed it, after White's death, in the
_Examiner_. Lamb's friendship and sympathy in taste with White induced him
to attach greater value to this book than it was, perhaps, strictly
entitled to; he even passes some commendation on the frontispiece, which
is undoubtedly a very poor specimen of art. It is remarkable how Lamb, who
was able to enter so completely into Hogarth's sterling humor, could ever
have placed any value upon this counterfeit coin.

But Lamb had a great regard for Jem White. They had been boys together,
school-fellows in Christ's Hospital; and these very early friendships
seldom undergo any severe critical tests. At all events, Lamb thought
highly of White's book, which he used often to purchase and give away to
his friends, in justification of his own taste and to extend the fame of
the author. The copy which he gave me I have still. White, it seems, after
leaving Christ's Hospital as a scholar, took some office there; but
eventually left it, and became an agent for newspapers.

In one of the Elia essays, "The Praise of Chimney-sweepers," Lamb has set
forth some of the merits of his old friend. Undoubtedly Jem White must
have been a thoroughly kind-hearted man, since he could give a dinner
every year, on St. Bartholomew's day, to the little chimney-sweepers of
London; waiting on them, and cheering them up with his jokes and lively
talk; creating at least one happy day annually in each of their poor
lives. At the date of the essay (May, 1822) he had died. In Lamb's words,