In  1857,  Hunt's  wife  died.  In  1859,  appeared  his
last  series  of  papers,  in  The  Spectator.  On  August  28,
1859,  he  died  in  Putney,  asking  eager  questions  about
current  events  and  about  his  relatives.  Over  his  tomb
in  Kensal  Green  Cemetery  his  bust  has  been  erected
with  the  inscription,

"Write  me  as  one  who  loved  his  fellow  men."


These  are  the  bare  facts.  Something  of  the  spirit
of  Leigh  Hunt  is  indicated  by  that  stand  for  the  truth
in  the  Prince-Regent  case,  and  by  that  patient  en-
durance of  imprisonment.  Something  more  is  indi-
cated by  the  persistence  with  which  he  pursued  his
literary  career,  often  subsisting  on  bread  and  water,.
often  during  the  worst  years  (1834-1840)  going  with-
out food, — ^lacking  grit,  perhaps,  as  Hawthorn^  said,
yet  ever  courageous,  sweet-tempered,   forgiving.     A


NINETEENTH  CENTURY  ESSAYISTS  79

few  anecdotes  will  perhaps  round  out  a  comprehensive
idea  of  the  man.
