Biographical Memoir of the late Dr Turner. 251 



■wards as if for a relative ; and they have resolved to present a 

 bust of their favourite Professor to the institution where they 

 profited by his instructions. 



Few words are needed to depict a character, like Dr Turners, 

 in which open sincerity of mind and simplicity of heart were the 

 predominating qualities. He was the very soul of honour iu 

 every act and thought : without this quality indeed his reputa- 

 tion as a faithful and exact experimentalist never could have 

 been established. Himself undeviating in probity, and keenly 

 alive to defects in the character and conduct of others, he was 

 nevertheless gentle and indulgent to all. Of warm feelings, yet 

 in constant possession of temper, — energetic in action and 

 thought, yet mild and winning in his deportment, — unpretend- 

 ing, yet without reserve, in his address and manner, — he seldom 

 failed to gain at once the esteem and confidence of those with 

 whom he came in contact. During the many years we passed 

 in one another''s society, I have reason to believe that he never 

 made an enemy, and never lost a friend. In his domestic re- 

 lations he was a pattern of all that is good. The junior mem- 

 bers of his father's family resided constantly with him, and re- 

 ceived from him all a father's care and tenderness, as well as a 

 brother's warmest love. Scarcely a scheme did he plan without 

 their interests forming an essential element of it : In every re- 

 creation they were his never-failing companions. Throughout 

 all the relations of life, with his pupils, his colleagues, his friends, 

 and the world at large, he exhibited the same kindness of feel- 

 ing, the same disinterested conduct. But in no respect was his 

 character more strongly marked than by his Christian princi- 

 ples and practice. At all times his mind was deeply imbued 

 with the feeling of true religion ; and, far from allowing the pur- 

 suit of science to withdraw him from religious contemplation, 

 which has unhappily been the case with too many of its cultiva- 

 tors, his faith grew in purity with his knowledge. In his latter 

 years his favourite recreation was the study of the history and 

 principles of the Christian church ; and his great deli"ht was to 

 follow this study in company with the members of his family. 

 Under such mental discipline, and the hallowing influence of 

 long and increasing illness, his mind was purified of what re- 

 mained of this earth's corruption. That his faith was as pure 



