32 MEMOIR OF 



much of an isolated man during the last thirty years 

 of his life ; partly owing to a naturally retiring dis- 

 position, partly to the peculiarity of some of his 

 opinions, in respect to which, though unobtrusive, he 

 was inflexible — but mainly to that frequent change of 

 residence which is unfavourable to social fellowship. 

 Hence it is that of the thousands who are familiar 

 with his name in the annals of Science, comparative- 

 ly few T can speak of him from personal knowledge. 



In person he was above the middle stature, and of 

 a naturally robust frame. His constitution was elas- 

 tic, and capable of much endurance of privation and 

 fatigue, which he attributed chiefly to the undevi- 

 ating simplicity of his diet. His head w r as large, his 

 forehead high and expanded, his nose aquiline ; and 

 his collective features were expressive of that undis- 

 turbed serenity of mind which was a conspicuous 

 trait of his character. 



Those who knew him in early life, represent him 

 to have been remarkable for personal endowments; 

 a fact which is evident in the full-length portrait 

 now in possession of his family, and which was 

 painted upwards of forty years ago by the celebrated 

 Northcote. The lithographed likeness which accom- 

 panies this memoir, is copied from a portrait taken 

 by Mr. Sully in 1824, at which period Mr. Maclure 

 was about sixty-three years of age. 



