WATT, 55 



astronomy, down to botany, received his diligent at- 

 tention, but he was tolerably read in the lighter kinds 

 of literature, delighting in poetry and other works of 

 fiction, full of the stores of ancient literature, and 

 readily giving himself up to the critical disquisitions 

 of commentators, and to discussions on the fancies of 

 etymology. His manners were most attractive from 

 their perfect nature and simplicity. His conversation 

 was rich in the measure which such stores and such 

 easy taste might lead us to expect, and it astonished all 

 listeners with its admirable precision, with the extra- 

 ordinary memory it displayed, with the distinctness it 

 seemed to have, as if his mind had separate niches for 

 keeping each particular, and with its complete rejection 

 of all worthless and superfluous matter, as if the same 

 mind had some fine machine for acting like a fan, 

 casting off the chaff and the husk. But it had besides 

 a peculiar charm from the pleasure he took in convey- 

 ing information where he was peculiarly able to give 

 it, and in joining with entire candour whatever discus- 

 sion happened to arise. Even upon matters on which 

 he was entitled to pronounce with absolute authority, 

 he never laid down the law, but spoke like any other 

 partaker of the conversation. You might observe 

 him, however, with his pencil in his hand, ready to 

 prove what might require explanation, and he was an 

 adventurous disputant who would not rather see his in- 

 tellect play in illustrations than descend with demon- 

 strative force. He was ever in pursuit of truth or the 

 gratification of a rational curiosity, and this attempered 

 as well as guided his talk. If he seemed occasionally 

 to be moved beyond the interest thus excited, it was 

 when he perceived any thing uncandid or unfair, or, 

 above all, indirect and dishonest. The attempts of one 

 man to appropriate another's inventive merit were the 

 things that most roused his indignation ; for^ regarding 

 discovery and invention as the most precious of all 

 property, he could not bear the sight of its violation, 



