4o6 Dr. Curries Memoirs of the late "Dr. Betl. 



youth. When yet a boy, he had the fame in- 

 dependence of fpirit and originality of mind, 

 which marked his riper years. 



Failings, fuch as his, have their moft unfavour- 

 able effefis in general intercourfe. In the eye of 

 friendfliip they appear of little account, when 

 weighed againft a liberal, cultivated, and vigo- 

 rous mind, and a temper brave, generous, and 

 lincere. 



Dr. Bell acquired knowledge with remarkable 

 facility ; but he did not communicate it with 

 equal eafe. This was chiefly owing to early 

 habits of verbal and grammatical criticifm, in 

 which he had greatly indulged. Pie was ex- 

 tremely nice in his choice of words j he would 

 life no exprefTions that were not exaftly fitted 

 to his ideas, and, in his diflike of every thing 

 ftrained or affected, he had declared war againft 

 feme of the natural ornaments of fpeech. His 

 reading was extenfive, and his learning various. 

 In every thing which related to his profcffion, 

 he was minutely informed. His education had 

 afforded him every opportunity of improvement ; 

 his application was great, and his acquirements 

 were proportionably valuable. In claffical litera- 

 ture he had few equals ; and, in hiftorical and 

 philofophical knovv'ledge, -he had not many 

 fuperiors. 



The qualities of Dr. Bell's mind required a 

 (late of aftion. He was eminently fitted for 



fnuations 



