The Great Chemi.^f, Joseph Black. 83 



inform.'itioti which will settle a point, in itself interesting in the 

 history of education in Belfast. 



The Latin School remained in existence until the establish- 

 ment of the Belfast Academy in 1786. 



Whether in the old Latin School, then, or under the care of 

 Mr. Sprott in another place, Joseph remained in Belfast until 

 1746, when he entered the University of Glasgow. 



In the " Matriculation Album " of Glasgow University the 

 following reference is found, under date of 1746: — "Josephus 

 Black, filins natu quartus Joannis Black, Mercatoris in Urbe 

 Bordeaux in Gallia, ex Urbe de Belfast in Hibernia." 



Attached to the above is an editor's note, which reads: — 

 "Born at Bordeaux in 1728, M.D. Edin. 1754, Member of 

 Faculty of Physic and Surgery Glasgow 1757, President of that 

 Faculty 1759-1761 and 1765-1766. Lecturer in Chemistry in 

 the University of Glasgow 1756-1766, Professor of Anatomy 

 therein 1756-1757. Professor of Practice of Medecine 1757-1766- 

 Professor of Chemistry in the University of Edinburgh 1766-1799. 

 The discoverer of Latent Heat. Was chosen in 1789 one of the 

 six Associes Etrangeres of the Royal Academy of Sciences in 

 Paris, the greatest literary honour in Europe. Died at Edinburgh 

 unmarried, 6th December 1799." 



When Joseph Black entered Glasgow University he had the 

 good fortune to come under the influence of two men who were 

 well qualified to direct the studies of such an enquiring and 

 ingenious intellect, the Professor of Natural Philosophy, Dr. Dick, 

 and later on Dr. Cullen, the Professor of Medecine and Chemistry. 



Regarding his choice of a profession. Dr. Robison, who edited 

 his lectures published in 1803, tells us "he preferred that of 

 Medecine, as the most suited to the general habit of his studies, 

 not foreseeing, daring the happy gaiety of youth, how much he 

 would suffer by anxious solicitude and fears in the practice of this 

 noble art." 



Black was fortunate also in his relations and friends, The 

 mother of James Russell, the Professor of Natural Philosophy in 



