Dr. Curries Memoirs of the late Dr. Bell. 405 



Thefe high endowments do not often appear 

 without their kindred defeds. A fearlefs tem- 

 per, and an open heart, are feldom ftridly allied 

 to prudence, and are apt to infpire a contempt 

 of appearances, which may have ferious confe- 

 quences in the bufinefs of life. That this was 

 inftanced in Dr. Bell, thofe who loved him beft 

 are forced to allow. He was not always fuffi- 

 ciently attentive to the decorum of manners: he 

 was too much difpofed to break through thofe 

 reftraints, which a neceffary ceremony Tias im- 

 pofed on the intercourfe of fociety. Free from 

 aftedation himfelf, he was quick in difcerning 

 It in others J and he feldom allowed any thin^ 

 which bore its refemblance, to pafs unnoticed^ 

 even in thofe for whom he entertained the higheft 

 eileem. The confequence which vanity oftea 

 affumes, and which benevolence fees and ad- 

 mits, he was too much inclined to expofe. This 

 bias of mind appeared before he was eight years 

 of age. At that time, the uncommon livelinefs 

 of his. temper, and quicknefs of his apprehenfion, 

 made him univerfally admired, as a child of 

 extraordinary talents. Every fally of his imagi- 

 nation was encouraged, and the difpofition to 

 which I have alluded, grew up into a habit 

 which great tendernrfs of heart and ftrenc^th 

 of judgment could never effedually overcome 

 The features of his charader were indeed 

 Arongly marked throughout, from his early 



^ ^ 3 vouth. 



