86 Henry Riddell on 



We do not follow Black year by year of his life. The 

 characteristic habits and features of his life have been described, 

 and we need not expand into a biography specially dealing with 

 the thirty-three years in Edinburgh. Some have said that he 

 frittered away on general medical practice the time and attention 

 which would have given to the world many great discoveries. It 

 is not necessary to take this view. It seems apparent that, as 

 Black grew older, the reserve of strength and of intellectual 

 vigour beyond what his teaching required became less and less, 

 and it was simple wisdom to confine himself to what he felt able 

 to perform, and leave to others to press forwaixl upon the road 

 which he had opened. 



As to the closing years of his life I again fall back upon 

 Robison, as his description cannot be improved — " My narrative 

 draws to a close. The infirmities of advanced life bearing more 

 heavily on a feeble constitution gradually curtailed those hours of 

 walking and gentle exercise which had always been necessary for 

 Dr. Black's case. Company and conversation began to fatigue; 

 he went less and less abroad, and was visited only by his intimate 

 friends. His duties at College now 1)ecame too heavy a task and 

 he got an assistant. But at length even this was more than 

 enough for his diminished strength and he Avas compelled to give 

 up lecturing altogether. His only apprehension was that of a long 

 continued sick bed; and this, perhaps, less from any selfish feeling 

 than from the humane consideration of the trouble and distress 

 occasioned to attending friends, and never was this modest and 

 generous wish more completely gratified." 



His great friend and relative, Dr. Adam Ferguson, tells us 

 that, "on the 26th November, 1799, and in the seventy-first year 

 of his age, he expired without any convulsion, shock or stupor, to 

 announce or retard the approach of death." 



" So ended a life which had been passed in the most correct 

 application of reason and good sense to all the objects of pursuit 

 which providence had prescribed to his lot." 



" He had long enjoyed the tender and affectionate regard of 



