Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 17.djvu/272

 ever his most devoted friend. There, passing through the stages of decline, he died on 29 July 1868, in Davies Street, Berkeley Square, and vaa huried in Kensal Green cemetery.

 ELLIOTT. [See also, and .]

ELLIOTT, CHARLOTTE (1789–1871), hymn-writer, daughter of Charles Elliott, by Eling, daughter of Henry Venn, sister of [q. v.] and [q. v.], was born 17 March 1789. She showed literary talent, and in her youth wrote humorous verses. After a severe illness in 1821 she became a permanent invalid, and the influence of Cæsar Malan of Geneva, whose acquaintance she made in 1822, induced her to give up all secular pursuits. She wrote many religious poems, which appeared as 'Hymns for a Week,' of which forty thousand copies were sold; 'Hours of Sorrow' (1840 and many later editions), and the 'Invalid's Hymn Book.' The last, privately printed in 1834, included 'Just as I am,' a hymn which has had extraordinary popularity, and been translated 'into almost every living language.' She edited the 'Christian Remembrancer Pocket-book' from 1834 to 1859, contributing many of her own hymns. She lived with her father at Clapham, and then at Brighton. In 1845 she moved to Torquay, but in 1857 returned to Brighton, where she remained till her death, 22 Sept. 1871.

The Religious Tract Society has published 'Selections' from her poems with a memoir by her sister, Mrs. Babington, and 'Leaves from unpublished Journals, Correspondence, and Note-books.'

 ELLIOTT, EBENEZER (1781–1849), the corn-law rhymer, was born at the New Foundry, Masborough, parish of Rotherham, Yorkshire, 17 March 1781. His father's ancestors were border raiders, 'thieves, neither Scotch nor English, who lived on the cattle they stole from both.' His father, known as 'Devil Elliott,' was engaged in the iron trade, was in politics an extreme radical, and in religion an ultra-Calvinist. His mother came from near Huddersfield, where from time immemorial her ancestors had lived on their lot of freehold ground. Her health was bad, and made her life 'one long sigh.' Elliott was one of a family of eleven, of whom eight reached mature life. Elliott was baptised by Tommy Wright, a tinker, of the same religious persuasion as the father. He was first educated at a dame's school, then under Joseph Ramsbotham at Hollis school, where he was 'taught to write and little more.' Various changes of school followed. In his sixth year he had the small-pox, which left him 'fear-fully disfigured and six weeks blind.' This increased a natural timidity of disposition and fondness for solitude. About fourteen he began to read extensively on his own account. He kept this up, though early engaged in business, and from sixteen to twenty-three working for his father without any other pecuniary reward than a little pocket-money. In his leisure hours he studied botany, collected plants and flowers, and was delighted at the appearance of 'a beautiful green snake about a yard long, which on the fine Sabbath mornings about ten o'clock seemed to expect me at the top of Primrose Lane.' His love of nature, he says, caused him 'to desert both alehouse and chapel.' When seventeen he wrote his first poem, the 'Vernal Walk,' dedicated to Miss Austen. Other early pieces were 'Second Nuptials' and 'Night, or the Legend of Wharnecliffe,' which last was described with some justice by the 'Monthly Review' as the &apos;Ne plus ultra&apos; of German horror and bombast.' His 'Tales of the Night,' including 'The Exile' and 'Bothwell,' were of more merit, and brought him high commendation from Southey, Then followed at various intervals 'Love,' 'The Letter,' 'They met again,' 'Withered Wild Flowers,' 'Spirits and Men.' This last was an 'epic poem' of the world before the flood, dedicated, 'as evidence of my presumption and my despair,' to James Montgomery the poet. There are occasional passages of genuine inspiration in all these ambitious poems, but the turgid and pseudo-romantic also largely figure there. Imperfections of education and a want of humour fully account for the defects.

More practical and interesting, if more commonplace subjects, soon engaged Elliott's undivided attention. He had married at Rotherham. His wife brought him a small fortune. He invested it in the business, 'already bankrupt beyond redemption,' in which his father had a share(, p. 93). The father had been already unfortunate in trading. His difficulties hastened his wife's death, and he himself died soon after her. Elliott's efforts were unable to retrieve the fortunes of the firm. After some years of strenuous effort he lost every penny he had in the world, and was obliged to live for some time dependent on his own misfortunes, as well as