BLACK’S LECTURES QN CHEMISTRY. 
yery lightly upon the characteristic fail- 
ing of Dr. Black’s later years: it ought 
not, however, to have been either de- 
nied or justified: if a mean economy 
was allowed to interfere with his duty 
as a professor; if the laboratory estab- 
lishment was scandalously deficient in 
apparatus of absolute necessity, what a 
strange proof of Dr. Black’s “ correct- 
ness and propriety of conduct” is it, to 
say, that “his house was spacious, his 
table plentiful and elegant, rather above 
than below his condition.” The con- 
cluding scene of Dr. Black’s life was 
most singularly calm and happy. 
<< His only apprehension,’ observes Profes- 
sor Robison, ‘ was that of a long-continued 
sick bed; and this, perhaps, less from any 
selfish feeling than from the humane conside- 
ration of the trouble and distress occasioned 
to attending friends ; and never was this mo- 
dest and generous wish more completely gra- 
tified. On the 26th Nov..1799, and in the 
seventy-first year of his age he expired, with- 
out any convulsion, shock, or stupor, to an- 
nounce or retard the approach of death. Be- 
ing at table with his usual fare, some bread, 
prunes, and a measured quantity of milk, 
diluted with water, and having the cup in 
his hand when the last stroke of his pulse was 
to be given, he set it down on his knees, 
which were joined together, and kept it steady 
with his hand, in the manner of a person per- 
fectly at ease; and in this attitude expired, 
without spillinga drop, and without a writhe 
in his countenance; as if an experiment had 
been required to shew to his friends the faci- 
lity with which he departed.’ His servant 
opened the door to tell him that some one 
had left his name, but getting no answer, 
stepped about half way towards him, and 
seeing him sitting in that easy posture, sup- 
orting his bason’of milk with one hand, he 
thought that he ‘had dropped asleep, which 
he had sometimes seen ‘happen after meals. 
He went back and shut the door; but before 
he got down stairs some anxiety, which he 
could not account foy, made him return and 
look again at his master. Even then he was 
not satisfied, after coming pretty near him, 
and turned to go away ; but again returned, 
and coming quite close to him he found him 
without life. Sag 
«€ So ended a life which had passed in the 
most correct application of reason and good 
sense to all the objects of pursuit which pro- 
925 
vidence had prescribed to his lot ; with many 
topics of agreeable recollection, and few 
things to ruffle his thoughts. He had long 
enjoyed the tender and affectionate regard of 
parents whom he loved, honoured, and re- 
vered; with the delightful consciousness of 
being a dutiful son, and being cherished as 
such ;—one of a family remarkable for sweet- 
ness of disposition and manners, he had liyed 
with his brothers and sisters in terms of 
mutual love and attachment. He had never 
lost a friend but by the stroke of mortality, 
and he felt hiraself worthy of that constancy 
of regard. He had followed a profession al- 
together to his taste, and had followed it in 
a manner, and with a success which procur- 
ed the esteem and respect of all competent 
judges, and set his name among the most 
eminent, and he was conscious that his repu- 
tation was not unmerited; and with a success, 
in respect of emolument which secared the 
respect, even of the ignorant; and gave him 
the command of every rational gratification, 
and enabled him to add greatly to the com- 
forts of the numerous descendents of his wor- 
thy parents,—heirs nat only of their name 
but likewise of their unambitious moderation; 
and amiable simplicity of character.” ; 
The contents of these volumes have 
somewhat of an air of confusion, arising 
in some degree, perhaps, from the im- 
perfect state in which Dr. Black’s ma- 
nuscripts were found at his death, but 
principally from the partial adoption of 
new nomenclature and late discoveries. 
‘These appear to have been inserted in 
his lectures at various times, as each ap- 
proved itself to his judgment, while the 
natural feebleness of old age, added to 
an originally delicate constitution, dis- 
abled him from remodelling the whole 
into a harmonious system. A large, we 
will not say a disproportionate sbare of 
the work, is devoted to the illustration 
of the author’s own immortal discove- 
ries, which are related with great mi- 
nuteness and in a most engaging man- 
ner; and it is particularly satisfactory to 
behold on all occasions a most happy 
exemption from jealousy of his fellow- 
labourers in the inexhaustible mine of 
experimental knowledge, and the most 
scrupulous equity in assigning the fame 
of great discoveries to the rightful 
claimants. ry 
