Biographical Memoir ()f Sir John Leslie. 31 



It is rare, indeed, to find a man of so much invention, and who 

 himself valued the inventive far above all the other powers, pos- 

 sessing so vast a store of information. Nor was it in the wide 

 field of science alone that its ampHtude was conspicuous. It was 

 so in regard to every subject that books have touched upon. In 

 Scottish history, in particular, his knowledge was ahke exten- 

 sive and minute ; and he had, in acquiring it, gone deep into 

 sources of information — such as parish records, family papers, 

 and criminal trials — which ordinary scholars never think of ex- 

 ploring. The ingenious mathematician, the original thinker and 

 discoverer, the rich depositary of every known fact in the pro- 

 gress of science, would have appeared to any one ignorant of his 

 name and character, and who happened to hear him talk on this 

 subject, as a mere antiquary ; or, at best, as a curious and in- 

 defatigable reader of history, whom nature had blessed with 

 one strong faculty, that of memory. His conversation shewed 

 none of that straining after " thoughts that breathe, and 

 words that burn," so conspicuous in his writings. In point of 

 expression, it was simple, unaffected, and remarkably correct. 

 Though he did not shine in mixed society, and was latterly un- 

 fitted, by a considerable degree of deafness, for enjoying it, his 

 conversation, when seated with one or two, was highly enter- 

 taining. It had no wit, little repartee, and no fine turns of any 

 kind ; but it had a strongly original and racy cast, and was re- 

 plete with striking remarks and varied information. 



Viewing his mind with reference to its moral attributes and 

 habitudes, we must allow that it was not free from imperfec- 

 tions. He had prejudices, of which it would have been better 

 to be rid ; he was not over charitable in his views of human 

 virtue; he was not so ready, on all occasions, to do justice to 

 kindred merit as was to be expected in so ardent a worshipper 

 of genius ; and his care of his fortune went beyond what is 

 seemly in a philosopher. But his infirmities were far more 

 than compensated by his many good qualities ; — by his equa- 

 nimity, his cheerfulness, his simplicity of character, his straight- 

 forwardness, his perfect freedom from affectation, and his un- 

 conquerable good nature. He was, indeed, one of the most 

 placable of human beings ; and, notwithstanding his attention 

 to liis own interest, it is yet undeniable, that he was a warm 

 and good friend, and a relation on whose affectionate assistance 



