Biographical Memoir of Dr Priestley. S31 



nothing but languish. A gradual decay terminated his days 

 after three years of suffering. 



His last moments were filled up by the effusions of that piety 

 which had animated his whole life, and which, from being ill 

 governed, had caused all his errors. He had the Gospels read 

 to him, and thanked God for having granted him a useful life 

 and peaceful death. He considered as among the principal be- 

 nefits which he had received, that of having been personally ac- 

 quainted with almost all his contemporaries of celebrity. I go to 

 sleep like you^ said he to his young children as they were carried 

 away from him ; htU^ added he, looking upon those around him, 

 we shall awake together^ and, I hope, to eternal happiiiess, thus 

 testifying in what belief he died. These were his last words. 



Such was the end of that man whom his enemies accused so 

 long of attempting to overthrow all religion and all morality, 

 and yet whose greatest error was, that he mistook his profession, 

 and attached too much importance to his peculiar sentiments, 

 on matters where the most important of all sentiments should 

 be the love of peace. 



Fa£ts in regard to the Hybernation of the Chiirmey Swallow^ 

 (Hirundo rustica). By the Reverend Colin Smith of In- 

 verary. In a Letter to Professor Jameson. 



Dear Sir, Bocaird near Inverary, 22<i June 1827. 



JLf those facts, which come under individual observation, in 

 different places and at different times, were communicated and 

 compared, much information might perhaps be collected, and 

 much light thrown upon many parts of Natural History, which 

 are still veiled in obscurity. I hope, therefore, that you will not 

 consider me idly obtrusive, in making known to you the follow- 

 ing particulars connected with the history of the swallow ; be- 

 cause, though quite insufficient to determine the winter resi- 

 dence of this bird, they shew that he occasionally sinks into a 

 state of torpor, from which he is recovered by the application 

 of warmth. 



