*54] 
Scotland, they elected me-one of 
their own members; and afterwards 
preferred. me _to another office, to 
which the abilities and virtues of the 
never to be forgotten Dr. Hutche- 
son had given a superior degree of 
iJlustration. The period of thirteen 
years which I spent as a member of 
that society, 1 remember as by far 
the most useful, and-therefore, as 
by far the, happiest and most ho- 
nourable period of my life; and 
Now, afler three and twenty years 
absence, to be remembered in so 
very agreeable a manner by my old 
friends and protectors, gives me a 
peart-felt joy which I cannot easily 
€xpress to you,” f 
The short narrative which I have 
now finished, however barren of ins’ 
ciden!, may convey a general idea 
of the genius and» character of this 
illustriousman. Of the intellectual 
gilts and attainments by which he 
was so eminently distinguished ;— 
of the' originality and comprehen- 
siveness of his views ; the extent, the 
Variety, and the correctness of his 
information; the inexhaustible fer- 
tility of his invention; and the or- 
naments which his rich and beauti- 
ful imagination had borrowed from 
classical culture;—he has lefi behind 
him lasting monuments. To his pri-’ 
vate worth the most certain of all 
testimonies may be found in that 
confidence, Tespect and attachment, 
which followed him through all the 
various relations of life. The sere- 
nity and gaiety he enjoyed under 
the pressure of his growing infirmi- 
ties, and the warm interest be felt 
to the last, in every thing connected 
with the welfare of kis friends, will 
be long remembered by a small cir- 
cle, with whom, as long as his 
strength permitted; he regularly 
Spent an evening in the week ; -and 
ANNUAL "REGISTER, 1795. 
to whom the recollection of his “ 
worth still forms a pleasing, though- 
melancholy bond of union. 
* 
The more delicate and charac ‘ 
teristical features of his mind, it is, © 
perhaps, impossible to trace. 
there were many peculiarities, both 
in his manners; and in his intel- 
That- 
lectual habits, was manifest to the ° 
most superficial observe¥; but, al- ° 
though to those who knew him, 
these peculiarities detracted nothing * 
from the respect which his abilities 
commanded; and, although to his’ 
intimate friends, they added an in- 
expressible charm to his conversa- 
tion, while they displayed, in the” 
most interesting light, the artless ' 
simplicity of his heart ; yet it would 
require a very skilful pencil to pre- 
sent them to the public eye. He 
was certainly not fitted for the ge- ° 
neral commerce of the world, or’ 
for the business of active life. The 
comprehensive speculations 
which he had been occupied from 
his youth, and the variety of mate- 
rials which his own invention con- 
tinually supplied to his thoughts, 
rendered him habitually inattentive 
to familiar objects, and to common 
with » 
occurrences ; and he frequently ex-'' 
hibited instances of absence, which 
have scarcely been surpassed by the ° 
fancy of Bruyere. Even in com- 
pany he was apt to be engrossed 
with his studies; and appeared, at’ 
times, by the motion of his lips, as 
well as by his looks and gestures, to 
be in the fervourof composition. I 
have often, however, been struck, 
at the distance of years, witb his ac- 
curate memory of the most trifling 
particulars ; and am inclined to be- 
heve, from this and some other cir- 
cumstances, that he possessed a- 
powernot perhaps uncommonamong 
absent mtn, of recollecting, in con-~ 
sequence 
