1 6 Literary and Philoso'bhical Society. 



ship of Hume and of Robertson. This seems to have 

 originated in a very simple way \ he was boarded in the 

 family of Mrs. Symes, the sister of Dr. Robertson the 

 historian ; much of his future success was probably owing 

 to this accident. His manners and habits gave him a 

 facility of taking advantage of the opportunity thus 

 offered, and he was frequently a guest in Dr. Robertson's 

 house. When subsequently he went to Paris he did not 

 forget to call on Hume, who was then secretary to the 

 English Embassy, and by this means he saw a good deal 

 of French society. Not much of his French correspon- 

 dence is preserved, but there are a few admiring letters 

 from Madame Neckar. There also it may be supposed, 

 as it is not stated, that he met with Benjamin Franklin, 

 with whom he afterwards corresponded. 



Lord Willoughby de Parham lived near Warrington, 

 and thus Percival had an opportunity of cultivating an 

 acquaintance, begun in London, and continued both there 

 and in the country, when he became a decided favourite. 

 It was by this influence that at the age of twenty-five he 

 was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, Lord Willoughby 

 being a vice-president. This was owing of course to the 

 personality of the young man, not to his scientific labours. 

 It would not be considered fair in these days ; still person- 

 ality has too much influence even now where that society 

 has an imperfect mode of election, difficult however to 

 change ; it gives a conge d'clire for certain persons, whilst 

 money for investigation is given where we might fancy 

 zeal would find enough ; but who can judge } No one is 

 elected a Fellow who cannot pay. Science is not enough 

 even there where it is supposed to rule. If this latter be the 

 fault of the constitution, it is a fault that could be altered. In 



