MEMOIR OF THOMAS SAY. XXI. 



beneficial results, as, being always open to conviction, he 

 readily yielded to the advice of those of his friends in whose 

 judgment, in literary matters, he placed reliance. 



Conscious of rectitude himself, ingenuous and sincere, 

 whenever he fancied he perceived either artifice or dissimu- 

 lation in any person, his aversion was prompt and decisive ; 

 and yet, in that useful talent which enables one readily to 

 discriminate human character, that tact by which we can 

 read the soul, as it were, in the countenance, he was so 

 singularly deficient, that the most barefaced impostor, with 

 a knowledge of the bias of his mind, would find no difficulty 

 in securing his confidence. 



This imperfect sketch of our deceased member would be 

 wanting in two essential particulars, were I to omit a dis- 

 tinct enforcement of his integrity, and his love of veracity. 

 These noble virtues, indispensable in every condition of hu- 

 man life, especially to those who devote themselves to the 

 study of nature, were so firmly established within his mind, 

 so entirely did they control his actions, that, with all those 

 who had the happiness of his acquaintance, the name of 

 Thomas Say was synonymous with honour, and his word 

 the expression of truth. 



