determined my course, and decided me as to the society which I kept during
the three happy and profitable years I afterwards spent at Cambridge.

Mr. Israel Lyons is now no more. I hope it is no disrespect to his memory
to say that he had his foibles. It was no secret among our contemporaries
at Cambridge that he was like too many other men of genius, a little
deficient in economy--shall I say it? a little extravagant. The
difficulties into which he brought himself by his improvidence were,
however, always to him matters of jest and raillery; and often, indeed,
proved subjects of triumph, for he was sure to extricate himself, by some
of his many talents, or by some of his many friends.

I should be very sorry, however, to support the dangerous doctrine, that
men of genius are privileged to have certain faults. I record with quite a
different intention these _facts_, to mark the effect of circumstances in
changing my own prepossessions.

The faults of Israel Lyons were not of that species which I expected to
find in a Jew. Perhaps he was aware that the Hebrew nation is in general
supposed to be too _careful_, and he might, therefore, be a little vain of
his own carelessness about money matters. Be this as it may, I confess
that, at the time, I rather liked him the better for it. His disregard, on
all occasions, of pecuniary interest, gave me a conviction of his liberal
spirit. I was never fond of money, or remarkably careful of it myself; but
I always kept out of debt; and my father gave me such a liberal allowance,
that I had it in my power to assist a friend. Mr. Lyons' lively disposition
and manners took off all that awe which I might have felt for his learning
and genius. I may truly say, that these three years, which I spent at
Cambridge, fixed my character, and the whole tone and colour of my future
life. I do not pretend to say that I had not, during my time at the