1815.] Br. Joseph Black. 823 



in the chemical chair of that University. Th^e was but one wish 

 with respect to a successor. Indeed, when the vacancy liappened 

 in 1756, by the death of Dr. Plummer, Dr. Black's reputation 

 stood so high, that, had it depended on the University, he would 

 have been appointed to the chair. He hitil now greatly added to 

 his claim of merit hy his important discovery of the procedure of 

 Nature in proilucing fluidity and vapour ; and he had acquired the 

 high esteem of every one hy the singular moderation and scrupulous 

 caution which marked all his researclies. Dr. Black was appointed 

 to the chemical chair ot Edinburgh, to the general satisfaction of 

 the public ; but the University of Glasgow sustained an irreparable 

 loss. In this new scene his talents were more conspicuous, and 

 more extensively useful. The number of his pupils underwent a 

 progressive and annual increase during the whole time that he was 

 Professor. Many of these pupils were from the workshop of the 

 artist or manufacturer, and had not enjoyed the advantage of a 

 liberal education. Yet such persons, in the opinion of Dr. Black, 

 constituted by no means the least important part of his class. He 

 laboured, therefore, with the greatest assiduity, to bring his lectures 

 to a level with this least informed part of his audience ; and thus 

 every year he rendered them more and more elementary. His 

 lectures were always listened to by his audience with inexpressible 

 delight. His voice was low ; but sweet and distinct. His language 

 was simplicity itself ; but always apposite, and never vulgar. His 

 experimental illustrations were exactly suited to the object in view, 

 and carried full conviction to the mind of the spectator : there was 

 no glare, no parade, no showman exhibition ; but an attic elegance 

 and simplicity highly delightful to a refined and cultivated mind. 1 

 describe the lectures such as I listened to them myself, about the 

 year 1796. But at that period Dr. Black's vigour was nearly gone. 

 Indeed his state of health was such that he was obliged to employ 

 an assistant to help him in his experiments, and to lecture for him 

 occasionally. But even with all these disadvantages, the effects of 

 his lectures were such as I can never forget : they made an impres- 

 sion on my mind which no time can efface. 



Dr. Black's health had been always delicate. The least exertion 

 brought on a cough, with a spitting of blood. This obliged him to 

 remain a tranquil spectator of the chemical discoveries which were 

 constantly |X)uring in from all quarters, and to leave it to otiiers to 

 explore the tempting fields which he had originally laid open. 

 Towards the latter period of his life, when undue advantages were 

 taken by certain foreigners of the discoveries which he had made, 

 without any acknowledgment of obligations to the original disco- 

 verer, he was urged by his friends to lay an historical detail of the 

 whole of his labours before the pui)lic. He began this task more 

 than once ; but was always obliged to desist almost immediately, 

 in con.sequence of the illness brought on by this unusual exertion of 

 thought. 



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