WILLIAM SAMUEL POWELL, D.D.
THE fame of Dr. Powell still florishes on the spot
where it first took root and grew. The alterations lately
made in our system of public examination, have revived
much discussion respecting his principles and conduct;
nor have all those persons yet departed from amongst us,
who remember the man himself, and the sentiments which
he excited in the minds of his contemporaries. As how-
ever the character of one who has placed himself at the
head of a party, aspiring to direct the opinions of some,
and to restrain the influence of others, is generally viewed
under the delusive lights of prejudice, so we still hear
Dr. Powell spoken of with the different feelings of respect
and aversion: sometimes he is styled an unsullied guar-
dian of our most valuable institutions; at other times, he
is designated as a tyrannical bigot, who opposed all inno-
vation upon principles the most selfish and ungenerous.
Hence, a task of no inconsiderable weight and difficulty
falls on his biographer, who is required strenuously to