was intended for the use of students of the law, and was dedi- 

 cated to the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. His Essay on 

 the Temperature of different Latitudes was much noticed on the 

 Continent. His work on phlogiston, as already mentioned, was 

 translated into French, and commented on by five of the most ce- 

 lebrated French chemists ; it was twice translated into German by 

 different persons, viz., Gibelin and Lorenzo Crell. He also pub- 

 lished geological essays ; an Essay on the Analysis of Mineral 

 Waters ; a volume of metaphysical essays ; a few copies of a 

 treatise on the interpretation of the Apocalypse. He wrote, but 

 did not publish, a treatise on Music, in which he was profoundly 

 versed, although not a performer on any instrument. He had also 

 a treatise partly written, entitled Commentaries on Locke's Essay 

 on the Human Understanding, but did not live to finish it. Several 

 other manuscripts on various subjects were found after his death ; 

 amongst which were a tract on the Atonement, a subject which in 

 his early days had deeply interested him ; some papers on the 

 Unitarian Controversy; and an Essay on the Duties of Jurors. 



His works may be comprised under the heads of Divinity, Me- 

 taphysics, Logic, Law, Philology, Music, Mechanical Philosophy, 

 Chemistry, Mineralogy, Mining, Geology, Meteorology. He who 

 was well acquainted with these twelve very different subjects, and 

 who could write excellent treatises on particular branches of them, 

 may well be considered deserving of the honours which were be- 

 stowed on him. 



From this enumeration of Mr. Kirwan's works, and the variety 

 of their subjects, some idea may be formed of the extent of his 

 knowledge, and the diversified power of his mind. But his ac- 

 quirements were far more extensive than his actual writings would 

 indicate. Those who enjoyed the pleasure of his society, and there 

 are several of them still living, can bear testimony that scarcely 

 any subject of conversation could be introduced which he was inca- 

 pable not only of sustaining, but of illustrating with some fact or 

 opinion that was new to his hearers. And while he communicated 

 information, it was done so artfully and delicately, that he appeared 

 rather to remind the hearer of what he already knew, than to in- 

 struct him in what he should be expected to have known. 



