HENRY THEODORE TUCKERMAN, an entertaining essayist and miscellaneous writer, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, April 20th, 1813. He wrote extensively both in prose and verse. Among his best-known works are The Italian Sketch-Book, published in 1835; Rambles and Reveries in 1841; Thoughts on the Poets in 1846; Characteristics of Literature in 1849 to 1851; and Essays in 1857. He died in New York, December 17th, 1871. His essay on New England Philosophy appeared originally in the Democratic Review. It included the Defense of Enthusiasm, which has been more widely circulated than anything else from his pen.