MEMOIR OF DR WRIGHT. -*~ "151 



The visit of Dr Wright to London in 1807, ap- 

 pears to have recalled the attention of many of his 

 friends to the subject of his public services, which, in 

 their opinion, had never been adequately rewarded ; 

 and, in the following year, he was induced to return 

 to London, with a view to the promotion of this ob- 

 ject. Writing to one of his nieces, he says : " I have 

 no desire to accumulate but for your sakes who sur- 

 vive me. Make your father and his friends as happy 

 as I wish them. Let me beg of you to want for no- 

 thing that is necessary or proper." Inclosing a hand- 

 some remittance, he adds, " The Almighty has blessed 

 me with abundance, and with a heart to give away." 

 Although the chief purpose of his journey was not at- 

 tended with success, Dr Wright experienced the 

 truest satisfaction from the opportunity which it af- 

 forded him of feeling how many valuable friends he 

 possessed, and of witnessing their active exertions on 

 his behalf. He returned to Edinburgh in the month 

 of July 1808, by way of Chesterfield and Harrowgate, 

 paying visits in passing to his friends Dr Stokes and 

 Dr Murray, with each of whom he staid several 

 days. 



In so far as theoretical views in philosophy are op- 

 posed to the results of investigation and the evidence 

 of facts, they found in Dr Wright a steady and de- 

 termined opponent. He was rather a Neptunist in 

 geology, and had but little faith in the Plutonic theory 

 of Hutton and his disciples. He was too much ha- 

 bituated to think on all subjects for himself, to sub- 

 scribe implicitly to the doctrines of any particular 



