132 Character and Merits of ^ 



failed to manifest the most open scorn and detestation. Inde- 

 pendent, in short, of his high attainments, Mr, Playfair was 

 one of the most amiable and estimable of men, delightful in his 

 manners, inflexible in his principles, and generous in his affec- 

 tions ; and while his friends enjoyed the free and unstudied 

 conversation of an easy and intelligent associate, they had at 

 all times the proud and inward assurance that he was a being 

 upon whose perfect honour and generosity they might rely 

 with the most implicit confidence, in life and in death ; and of 

 whom it was equally impossible, that, under any circumstances, 

 he should ever perform a mean, a selfish, or a questionable ac- 

 tion, as that his body should cease to gravitate or his soul to live. 

 If we do not greatly deceive ourselves, there is nothing here 

 of exaggeration or partial feeling, and nothing with which an 

 indifferent and honest chronicler would not concur. Nor is it 

 altogether idle to have dwelt so long on the personal character 

 of this distinguished individual : for we are ourselves persuaded 

 that this personal character has almost done as much for the 

 cause of science and philosophy among us as the great talents and 

 attainments with which it was combined, and has contributed in 

 a very eminent degree, to give to the better society of this our 

 city that tone of intelligence and liberality by which it is so ho- 

 nourably distinguished. It is not a little advantageous to phi- 

 losophy that it is in fashion ; and it is still more advantageous, 

 perhaps, to the society which is led to confer on it this appa- 

 rently trivial distinction. It is a great thing for the country at 

 large — for its happiness, its prosperity, and its renown, that 

 the upper and influencing part of its population should be made 

 familiar, even in its untasked and social hours, with sound and 

 liberal information, and be taught to know and respect those 

 who have distinguished themselves for great intellectual at- 

 tainments. Nor is it, after all, a slight or despicable reward 

 for a man of genius to be received with honour in the highest 

 and most elegant society around him, and to receive in his liv- 

 ing person that homage and applause which is too often re- 

 served for his memory. Now, those desirable ends can never 



