1823.] Memoir oj the 



tion of his long and meritorious ser- 

 vices, by granting him a pension for 

 life, of 500/. per amium. This annuity, 

 together with a large property which 

 he had realised, chiefly by his publica- 

 tions, enabled him to retire in affluent 

 circumstances. But in his retirement, 

 his constant amusement continued to 

 be, the cultivation and dilfusion of 

 useful science. He officiated for 

 some time, every half-year, as the 

 principal examiner to tlie Royal Mili- 

 tary Academy, and also to the East 

 India College at Addiscombe. 



During this period, as well as pre- 

 viously, he was indefatigable in kind 

 offices, especially in promoting the 

 interest of scientific men, and recom- 

 mending them to situations, where 

 their talents might prove most useful 

 both to themselves, and to their coun- 

 try. To his recommendations, as well 

 as to his instructions, our most emi- 

 nent scientific institutions, have been 

 chiefly indebted for their Professors of 

 Mathematics during the last thirty 

 years. 



He was constantly visited at his resi- 

 dence in Bedford-row by an extensive 

 circle of friends; and his cheerfulness 

 and urbanity were uniformly the same. 

 It is remarkable, that, during the last 

 twelve months of his life, he was often 

 heard to declare that it was one of the 

 most happy years he had ever experi- 

 enced. His death was caused by a cold, 

 which brought on a return of his pul- 

 monary complaint. His illness was 

 neither tedious nor painful; and his 

 valuable life terminated on the 27th of 

 January, 1823, in the eighty-sixth year 

 of his age. His remains were interred 

 in the family-vault at Charlton, in 

 Kent; and his funeral was most re- 

 spectably attended. 



It must be gratifying to know, that 

 he retained his faculties unimpaired 

 almost to the last ; and that his disso- 

 lution was apparently without pain. 

 It is likewise worthy of remark, that, 

 only three days previous to his death, 

 he received certain scientific questions 

 from the corporation of London, which 

 ho answered immediately in the most 

 masterly manner. These questions 

 related to the intended arches of the 

 new Lon<l()n-bridge ; and his paper 

 on (lie subject, is considered not only 

 as a valuable document, but also highly 

 interesting, as being the last produc- 

 tion of this great man, and at such a 

 period of his ailvanced age and illness. 



During the last year of Or. Hutlon's 

 life, many of his scientific Iriends, wish- 



late Dr. Hutton. 



141 



ing to possess as correct and lasting a 

 resemblance of his person as his valu- 

 able works exhibit of his mind, entered 

 into a subscription for a marble bust, 

 from which casts might be taken in 

 any number that might be required. 

 This bust has been admirably executed 

 "by Mr. Sebastian Gahagan. The sub- 

 scription was supported by many of 

 the Doctor's early pupils, and other 

 eminent men, who seemed emulous in 

 manifesting their gratitude and esteem. 

 The sums subscribed having been found 

 greatly to exceed the disbursements, 

 the committee resolved to employ the 

 surplus in executing a medal ; to con- 

 tain, on one side, the head of Dr. 

 Hutton, and, on the other, emblems of 

 his discoveries on the force of gunpow- 

 der, and theilensity of the earth. These 

 medals have been finely executed by 

 Mr. Wyon, and one has been given 

 lo each subscriber to the bust. 



About three months before his deatli, 

 the bust WHS presented to the Doctor; 

 but the medals were finished only in 

 time to be presented to his friends who 

 attended his funeral. 



It should not be forgotten, that 

 amongst the subscribers to the bust, 

 was the Earl of Eldon, Lord Chan- 

 cellor of England : upon this occasion 

 the Doctor wrote a letter of thanks ; 

 and, a few days after his decease, his 

 son. General Hutton, sent the medal to 

 this highly distinguished nobleman, 

 with an account of the melancholy 

 event. The following letter was written 

 in answer; and we present it here, as 

 not less honourable fo his lordship's 

 feelings, than to the memory of Dr. 

 Hutton : — 



Feh. 3, 1823. 

 Sir, — I request yon to accept my very 

 sincere thanks for your conimiuiication 

 received on Saturday last. 



Full sixty years liave passed since I liad 

 the benefit of jour venerable father's iu. 

 structions, anil that benefit I regard as one 

 of the many blessings which I have enjoy- 

 ed in life, and of which blessings I wish 

 I had been more v?orthy. 



I feel very painfully that I did not wait 

 upon Dr. Hutton personally lo thank him 

 for his letter, in wliich he wrote with such 

 remarkable and affecting kindness respect- 

 ing Lady Eldon and mvsclf, — both his pu- 

 pils. 1 siiall preserve ttiat letter as a 

 testimony that a person of his eminence 

 had, tlii'oiigh so many years, leeollecteil 

 IIS with a sort of parental atleciion. 



I shall not fail to preserve anxiously t)ie 

 medal which yon liave been pleased to 

 send to niCj and for wliich I beg von to 

 receive my 1 hanks. To sec'ure, to liis me- 

 mory, ilic respect and veneralioii of his 

 conntry, 



