Account of 
Dr Diyfdale. 
50 AISTORY of the SOCIETY. 
loft that truly refpectable and valuable friend. He preached’ a 
fermon on that occafion from the following words: Let me die 
the death of the righteous, and let my laft end be like his; and 
though, by that time, his powers of compofition, and the 
energy of his delivery, were much abated, he paid an affec- 
tionate tribute to the memory of the much-refpeéted partner 
of his labours, whofe character, in defcribing that of the 
righteous man throughout the firft part of the difcourfe, he 
plainly alluded to, and in the conclufion delineated in direct 
terms. 
AFTER this time, it was evident, not only to his particular 
friends, but alfo to his hearers, that the ftrength both of his 
mind and body was confiderably impaired. The decline of 
his health was much accelerated by a fevere cough, to which 
he had long been fubject. He continued, however, occafion- 
ally to preach, though his difcourfes wanted that energy, both 
in compofition and delivery, which ufed to diftinguifh them. 
For fome years during the fitting of the General Affem- 
blies, when he felt the difcharge of the duty of Principal 
Clerk at times too fatiguing for him, he was allowed to retire, 
and one of the affliftant clerks officiated in his ftead. -At the 
meeting of the Affembly' in May 1788, he appeared in his 
place, and acted as Principal Clerk the firft day ; but finding 
his ftrength unequal to the remaining parts of the duty, on 
the fecond day he requefted permiffion of the Court to be af- 
fitted by his friend and relation *, who now pays this willing 
tribute to his memory, and his requeft was unanimoutly 
granted. 
Bur he did not long furvive the Aflembly of that year. 
Early in the month of June, his cough attacked him with ex- 
traordinary violence, and foon weakened him fo much, that he 
could no longer rife from his bed. He ftill however retained 
3 his 
* The hufband of his eldeft daughter. 
