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.