(i4) HlSrORr of the SOCTETT, 



AcconntofLord fomc, I bcUeve iiot Oil ally medical author'ty, fuppofed to have 

 Abcrcromw. pj-oduccd the complaiut to his bread. Tht anxiety and appU- 

 cation he beftowed on the duties of a very laborious profeflion, 

 might contribute, to exhauft the ftrength of his conftitution ; 

 and, if mental aiFedlions are to be allowed fuch force, the un- 

 eafniefs which for fome years he experienced on the fubjedl of 

 public affairs and tlie political ftate of his country, might im- 

 pair and weaken his health and fpirits. Deeply impreffed him- 

 felf with the excellence of the Britiih conftitution, and of the 

 happinefs derived from it, he faw with horror and indignation 

 (at a period confulerably earlier than that wliich excited the ap- 

 prehenfions of moft other people) the efforts of defperate and 

 defigning men to overturn it ; he lamented the delufion of thofe 

 who were milled to join them ; and he trembled for the efFeds 

 of that delufion in eftimable and benevolent but vifionary 

 minds, who might indulge the- pride of political theory and 

 fpeculation, to the danger, as he conceived, of all good order 

 and regular government, of all focial happinefs and focial 

 virtue. 



Of the public virtues of Lord Abercromby, I have given a 

 pretty full detail, becaufe thofe fpeak loudeft in example, and 

 are moft generally ufeful to mankind. Of his private virtues 

 and accomplifliments I might fpeak in this Society on the tefti- 

 mony of many of its Members, who will long remember the 

 excellence of his difpofition, the worth and honour of his 

 heart, the amiable and engaging manners which he exhibited. 

 From birth, from education, from native fentiment, and im- 

 proved fociety, he cultivated, and was never a moment unim- 

 prefTed with the feelings of a gentleman^ with that delicacy of 

 mind, " above the fixed and fettled rules," which poUfhes the 

 manners, which refines morality, which dignifies virtue ; of 

 which fuch an example is the more valuable in thefe days, when 



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