41 
which the curling of the surface interrupts by the refraction of so many little 
waves, let a small quantity of oil now and then out of their mouths, which, 
rising to the surface, smooths it, and permits the light to come down on them. 
In his retirement at Ormathwaite, among other chemical studies, 
mineralogy was by no means neglected. His cabinet contained 
several rare metallic and fossil substances; and he was well 
acquainted with all the subterraneous productions of Cumberland; 
which in number, value, and curiosity are not inferior to those of 
any other county. To the minerals found in the neighbourhood 
of Keswick he paid particular regard. Having judiciously selected, 
he carefully analyzed the ores of black jack, ie. zinc, and black- 
lead, i.e. plumbago, extracted from the mines at Borrowdale, in 
order to discover their original properties and qualities ; and the 
public was much disappointed in not receiving the result of his 
accurate inquiries. 
Many of his leisure hours were employed in agricultural im- 
provements, which contributed not only to his private advantage 
in rendering his own estates more productive, but also to the 
inhabitants of Keswick and its vicinity ; as in consequence of the 
methods which he suggested of draining and cultivating lands, the 
fertility of the soil has been considerably increased. 
His pupil and biographer, Dr. Dixon, says:—‘“‘In this retirement 
he also indulged that passion for polite literature which had never 
been entirely sacrificed to more interesting pursuits. Much of his 
time was devoted to the perusal of the ancient and modern poets, 
which had often been to him a source of relaxation and amusement 
when engaged in severer studies. But influenced by religious 
motives, and admiring sublimity of conception, he read with 
serious care the sacred poets, whose compositions are far superior 
in unaffected grandeur of style, genuine pathos, and in elevation 
of sentiment, to the most celebrated productions of unassisted 
reason. 
“From this general statement it may be properly inferred that 
Dr. Brownrigg was possessed of every qualification necessary to 
form a chemical philosopher, a dogmatic physician, and an elegant 
scholar. By his conduct in a civil capacity, which required 
