—— 
By T. H. Baker. 295 
proceeded from an inability to exert what in the plenitude of health was wont 
to enrapture and delight. Of this failure, at the last commemoration of Handel 
he was sensible. Aware that his reputation would suffer, should he make so 
unsuccessful an exit from public life, he resolved to make one more attempt, and 
once more exert the full strength of his vocal abilities. With this view he 
engaged himself, at the late Birmingham Music Meeting. On the first day he 
failed, and omitted an air; but on the last night his exertions astonished every 
one. That Norris was great before, but never so great as then, was the general 
opinion. The theatre rung with applause. Madame Mara was forgot, and the 
distinguished invalid enjoyed and deserved the loudest acclamations of the 
assembly. Much however as this success redounded to his fame, it was 
purchased with his life. His constitution was too feeble to survive efforts so 
violent and determined. Lord Dudley who, from early years has had a 
friendship for him, kindly invited him to Himley, in hopes it might have 
contributed to his recovery.’ (Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Sept. 13th, 
1790.) 
eee rl eel ee 
Francis Porrer, B.D., 
Rector of Kilmington, was born in the vicarage house at Mere, 
1594. 
Wood, in his Athenw Ovonienses, writes of him :— 
* Francis Potter was born in the Vicaridge House at Meyre in Wilts on Trinity 
Sunday, av. 1594, educated in Grammar learning in the King’s school at 
Worcester under Mr. Hen. Bright, became a Communer of Trin. Coll, under 
the tuition of his elder brother Hannibal Potter, in the latter end of the year 
1609, took the degrees in Arts and one in Divinity, and continued in the Coll. 
a close student till his father died an 1637,! and then succeeding him in 
the Rectory of Kilmanton (sometimes called Kilmington and Culmington) 
left the University for altogether, retired to that place, led a single and monkish 
life, without the conversation of ingenious men till the day of his death, 
He was from a boy given to drawing and painting, and the Founder’s picture 
that hangs in the Refectory of Zin. Coll. is of his copying. His genie laid 
most of all in the Mechanicks, had an admirable mechanical invention, and 
excellent notions for the raising of water, and making water engins; many 
of which inventions being presented to the Royal Society about the time of 
its first erection, were highly approved by them, and forthwith the members 
thereof admitted him one of their number. About the year 1640 he entertained 
the notion of curing diseases by transfusion of blood out of one man into 
another; the hint whereof came into his head from Ovid's story of Medea 
and Jason, which matter he communicating to the Royal Society, about the 
time of its first erection, was entred into their books. But this way of 
transfusion having (as ’tis said) been mentioned long before by And» Libavius 
our author Potter (who I dare say never saw that Writer) is not to be esteemed 
the first inventor of that notion, nor Dr. Rich. Lower, but rather an Advaneer. 
' Richard Potter, his father, died 1629. 
