The Great Chemist, Joseph Black. 65 



Belfast, by the influence of the great Macartney family, whose 

 agent his father had been. 



The following letter from George's Dublin Uncle Thomas, 

 dated 31st December, 1796, deals with this affiiir : — 



" My Dear Brother, 



I am conscious of the length of time elapsed since I last 

 wrote to you, which was, I believe, the 24th October, and I 

 am longing to hear how you are. . . . George Black, 

 junior, has just left for Belfast, after having been a fortnight 

 here attending His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, this 

 being the time his Lordship fixed for determining the business 

 George had in view, of which you are not unacquainted. 

 George had the honour of an audience from his Lordship on 

 two different times, and had the satisfaction to find he had 

 not forgot the promise he made to Lord Macartney in 

 providing for George by appointing him a Landwaiter in 

 Belfast, in the room of the person who wishes to resign in 

 favour of George, On being allowed an annuity by George. 

 This last circumstance has thrown such difficulties in the 

 way as to retard the business for some time longer. There 

 is an oath which cannot possibly be dispensed with, and 

 from the nature of the agreement between George and his 

 friend he could not comply with it. Lord Camden assured 

 George there was no instance in which it had been dispensed 

 with, and that he could not break through a regulation which 

 has been so strictly adhered to." 



This hesitation on George's part to commit perjury was very 

 unusual in an office seeker of that day, the oath being regularly 

 taken and as regularly evaded some how. The difficulty was 

 got over later, aud George received the appointment and did 

 his duty in it for many years. It is evident that his nmrriaee 

 was a happy one, and I shall quote a letter written bv him from 

 Dublin to his wife, dated 15th June. 1802. 



