CHAP. XI. HIS DEATH AND CHARACTER. 277 



then in progress the docks at Chatham and Sheerness, 

 the harbours at Howth and Kingstown, the bridge at 

 New Galloway, the Eau Brink Cut, the Aire and Calder 

 Navigation, and the pumping-engines for Bottesham 

 and S waff ham, in the Fens. He was especially anxious 

 about the Eau Brink Cut, nearly ready for opening, 

 urging his assistants to report from time to time, giving 

 him full particulars of the progress made. In the midst 

 of all this, he writes a letter to a harbour-master at Brid- 

 lington, giving him detailed instructions as to the arrange- 

 ment of tide tables ! His last business letter was written 

 to the Navy Board respecting the proper kind of gates 

 to be used for the dry dock at Pembroke : it was dated 

 the 28th September, 1821. A little before this he had 

 written to his friend Mr. Jerdan, the Edinburgh engineer, 

 that he had completed all business connected with his 

 preparation for the next session of Parliament, when 

 he had many bills to carry through. But how often are 

 the intentions of the bravest defeated ! Day by day he 

 grew weaker, struggling with the whole force of his 

 will against the disease that was slowly mastering him. 

 Although extremely ill, he insisted on rising from his 

 bed, and tottered about, even taking an occasional airing 

 in a carriage. In this state he continued until the 4th of 

 October. On that day he did not get up. His mind 

 had until then been as clear and vigorous as ever; 

 but now it began to wander. There was no resisting 

 the hand of death, which was already upon him. He 

 took no further heed of what passed around him, and 

 about five in the evening a violent fit occurred, from 

 which he never rallied. About an hour later he expired, 

 in the sixty-first year of his age. 



The portrait prefixed to this memoir expresses, so 

 far as an accurate delineation of his features can do, the 

 actual character of the man. It is grave and thoughtful, 

 yet has an expression of mildness perfectly in unison 

 with his gentle yet cheerful disposition. Raeburn painted 



